Dynamics of cluster formation in liquid-gas phase transitions

We present a study of a dynamical mechanism related to liquid-gas phase transitions in nuclear sources: the spinodal decomposition. Cluster formation is due to the development of unstable collective modes of the density and presents some specific features, related to the properties of the interparticle force. The analysis is quite general and can be easily extended to any system of particles interacting through short range forces. In two-component systems (neutrons and protons) fragments are formed with favourite sizes and neutron to proton ratio less than the one of the initial source (isospin distillation)Structure effects in the disassembly of dilute nuclei are also discussed.