Bimodality and Coulomb effects with a canonical thermodynamic model

TL;DR

This paper investigates how Coulomb interactions influence the phase transition behavior in finite nuclei using a canonical thermodynamic model, revealing that Coulomb effects alter the transition's nature without changing the phase diagram.

Contribution

It demonstrates that Coulomb interactions modify the order parameter and nature of the nuclear phase transition within the model, providing new insights into nuclear fragmentation phenomena.

Findings

Coulomb effects do not significantly alter the phase diagram.

Coulomb interactions change the transition's nature and order parameter.

Largest fragment distribution helps understand the transition phenomena.

Abstract

The effect of the Coulomb interaction on the phase diagram of finite nuclei is studied within the Canonical Thermodynamic Model. If Coulomb effects are artificially switched off, this model shows a phenomenology consistent with the liquid-gas phase transition. The inclusion of Coulomb does not significantly affect the phase diagram but it drastically modifies the nature and order parameter of the transition. A clear understanding of the phenomenon can be achieved looking at the distribution of the largest fragment produced in each fragmentation event. Possible connections with experimental observations are outlined.