An investigation of energy deposition mechanisms in heavy-ion reaction
s at intermediate energies is presented. Theoretical simulations are p
erformed in the framework of the semiclassical Landau-Vlasov model. Th
ey emphasize the influence of the initial nonequilibrium conditions, a
nd the connection with the incident energy is discussed. Characteristi
c times involved in the energy thermalization process and finite size
effects are analyzed.