Molecular-dynamics approach: From chaotic to statistical properties of compound nuclei.

Statistical aspects of the dynamics of chaotic scattering in the classical model of {alpha}-cluster nuclei are studied. It is found that the dynamics governed by hyperbolic instabilities, characterized by the positive Lyapunov exponents and the fractal dimensions, which results in an exponential decay of the survival probability, evolves to a limiting energy distribution whose density develops the Boltzmann form. The angular distribution of the corresponding decay products shows symmetry with respect to the {pi}/2 angle. The time estimated for the compound nucleus formation ranges within the order of 10{sup {minus}21} s.