THERMODYNAMICS OF A FINITE SYSTEM OF CLASSICAL PARTICLES WITH SHORT-RANGE AND LONG-RANGE INTERACTIONS AND NUCLEAR FRAGMENTATION

We describe a finite inhomogeneous three-dimensional system of classic al particles that interact through short- and/or long-range interactio ns by means of a simple analytical spin model, After working out the t hermodynamic properties of the system in the framework of the grand ca nonical ensemble, it is shown that the system experiences a phase tran sition at fixed average density in the thermodynamic limit. The phase diagram and the caloric curve are constructed and compared with numeri cal simulations. The implications of our results concerning the calori c curve are discussed in connection with the interpretation of corresp onding experimental data. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.