Excitation and decay of projectilelike fragments formed in dissipative peripheral collisions at intermediate energies

Projectilelike fragments (PLF, 15less than or equal toZless than or equal to46) formed in peripheral and midperipheral collisions of Cd-114 projectiles with Mo-92 nuclei at E/A=50 MeV have been detected at very forward angles, 2.1degreesless than or equal totheta(lab)less than or equal to4.2degrees. Calorimetric analysis of the charged particles observed in coincidence with the PLF reveals that the excitation of the primary PLF is strongly related to its velocity damping. Furthermore, for a given V-PLF*, its excitation is not related to its size, Z(PLF*). For the largest velocity damping, the excitation energy attained is large, approximately commensurate with a system at the limiting temperature.