title: Limiting temperatures and the equation of state of nuclear matter.
abstract: From experimental observations of limiting temperatures in heavy ion collisions we derive the critical temperature of infinite nuclear matter Tc=16.6+/-0.86. Theoretical model correlations between Tc, the compressibility modulus K, the effective mass m*, and the saturation density rho s are then exploited to derive the quantity (K/m*)1/2 rho -1/3 s. This quantity together with calculations employing Skyrme and Gogny interactions indicates a value of K in moderately excited nuclei that is in excellent agreement with the value determined from giant monopole resonance data.
authors.affiliation: Cyclotron Institute, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77845, USA.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Natowitz
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hagel
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang