Dynamics of Fragment Formation in the Nuclear Spinodal Region

The Vlasov-Nordheim equation is solved numerically on a lattice for nuclear matter in two dimensions. We discuss the reliability of the model at normal density and then study the response of the system to small perturbations. We find deterministic chaos inside the spinodal zone where fragment formation occurs. We discuss in detail the dynamical features of this phenomenon in order to clarify the mechanisms leading to nuclear disassembly in heavy--ion collisions.