Excitation-energy dependence of the giant dipole resonance width

High-energy {γ} rays have been measured in coincidence with heavy fragents in deeply inelastic reactions of ¹³⁶Xe{+}⁴⁸$Ti at 18.5 MeV/nucleon. The giant dipole resonance (GDR) strength function is deduced from an analysis of the photon spectra within the statistical model. The GDR width {Γ} is studied as a function of the fragment excitation energy E*. A saturation at about {Γ}=10 MeV is observed for E*/A{≥}1.0 MeV/nucleon.