Comparison of midvelocity fragment formation with projectilelike decay

The characteristics of intermediate mass fragments (IMFs: 3 Z 20) produced in midperipheral and central collisions are compared. We compare IMFs detected at midvelocity with those evaporated from the excited projectilelike fragment (PLF ∗ ). On average, the IMFs produced at midvelocity are larger in atomic number, exhibit broader transverse velocity distributions, and are more neutron rich as compared to IMFs evaporated from the PLF ∗ . These characteristics of midvelocity fragments are consistent with the low-density formation of the