FRAGMENTATION OF NECKLIKE STRUCTURES

Intermediate mass fragment (IMF: 3 less than or equal to Z less than o r equal to 20) emission from necklike structures joining projectile-li ke and targetlike residues has been observed for peripheral Xe-129 + C u-nat collisions at E/A = 50 MeV. These fragments are emitted primaril y at velocities between those of the projectilelike and targetlike res idues. Relative to the charge distribution of fragments evaporated fro m projectilelike residues, the distribution for ''neck'' emission show s an enhanced emission for fragments with 4 less than or equal to Z(IM F) less than or equal to 12. This feature is consistent with expectati ons for the fragmentation of a noncompact cylindrical configuration.