Nuclear Multifragmentation as Generalized Fission

An explanation for the phenomenon of statistical nuclear multifragmentation is presented within the framework of thermodynamical theory. Within this framework, multifragmentation occurs as a result of interplay between the disruptive Coulomb and/or centrifugal forces and cohesive surface free energy (surface tension) in a system undergoing fast statistical shape fluctuations -- a process similar to binary fission, except that generalized to multifragment decay channels. The process sets in at elevated excitation energies where it relies on thermal reduction of surface tension. It is gentle in that it does not involve violent collective flows of matter. Rather, the highly excited and shape-fluctuating system gets torn apart slowly by Coulomb forces as, aided by decreasing surface free energy, it reaches on fast time scales any of the very many possible multifragment saddle configurations..