Cluster Formation during Expansion of Hot and Compressed Nuclear Matter Produced in Central Collisions of Au on Au at 250 AMeV

Complete distributions of the light and intermediate mass fragments (Z=1-6) produced within the polar angle range of 1 to 30 degrees in highly central collisions of 250 AMeV Au+Au are presented. The results of this measurement and a model analysis are used to study the expansion and clustering of the hot and compressed transient state formed in central collisions of such a heavy system. The influence of the initial conditions on the final observables is discussed.