{Coherent Dissociation $^{12}$C~$\rightarrow$~3$\alpha$ in Lead-Enriched Emulsion at 4.5 GeV/$c$~per Nucleon

Abstract

The transverse-momentum distributions and correlation characteristics of relativistic $\alpha$ particles from the coherent dissociation of a carbon nucleus into three $\alpha$ particles at 4.5 GeV/$c$ are studied in lead-enriched emulsion. Comparative analysis of data obtained in ordinary and lead-enriched emulsion stacks is performed. It is shown that the statistical model of rapid fragmentation does not describe the momentum and correlation characteristics of a $\alpha$ particles in the rest frame of the carbon nucleus. The estimated decay temperature of $^{12}$C is weakly dependent on the target atomic mass. It is shown that the carbon nucleus undergoing fragmentation acquires angular momentum in the collision.