Negative specific heat in a thermodynamic model of multifragmentation

Abstract

We consider a soluble model of multifragmentation which is similar in spirit to many models which have been used to fit intermediate energy heavy ion collision data. In this model $c_v$ is always positive but for finite nuclei $c_p$ can be negative for some temperatures and pressures. Furthermore, negative values of $c_p$ can be obtained in canonical treatment. One does not need to use the microcanonical ensemble. Negative values for $c_p$ can persist for systems as large as 200 paticles but this depends upon parameters used in the model calculation. As expected, negative specific heats are absent in the thermodynamic limit.

Revtex, 13 pages including 6 figures