IMF IMF CORRELATIONS INFORMATION ON SPACE-TIME STRUCTURE OF THE FRAGMENTING SOURCE

Information on the decaying source contained in the IMF-IMF correlatio n function is analyzed within the Berlin-multifragmentation model. The rise seen at low excitation energies (E) for an angle-integrated cor relation function signalizes a very asymmetric hot fission. It disappe ars within the region of multifragmentation when the largest fragment is also an IMF. The simulations of the experimental data on correlatio n functions for the reaction Xe-128 + (nat)Cu are presented. Most expe rimental correlation functions per se do not give useful information, i.e. different choices of the source parameters give good fits. In the present paper we indicate what kind of experimental information allow s conclusive tests of the physical scenario. The shown simulations pre dict a larger freeze-out radius for an emitting source at smaller exci tation energies. A possible interpretation may be that multifragmentat ion is simultaneous on the time scale tau(c) almost-equal-to 10(-21) s of the Coulomb correlation but still sequential within a finer time-r esolution. I.e. the time delay tau(em). between the deliberation of tw o fragments at freeze-out is tau(em) < tau(c) and shrinking with risin g excitation.