  The density profile of a hot nuclear system produced in intermediate energy
heavy ion collisions is studied in a microcanonical formulation with a momentum
and density dependent finite range interaction. The caloric curve and the
density evolution with excitation are calculated for a number of systems for
the equilibrium mononuclear configuration; they compare favorably with the
recent experimental data. The studied density fluctuations are seen to build up
rapidly beyond an excitation energy of 8 MeV/u indicating the instability of
the system towards nuclear disassembly. Explicit introduction of deformation in
the expansion path of the heated nucleus, however, shows that the system might
fragment even earlier. We also explore the effects of the nuclear equation of
state and of the mass and isospin asymmetry on the nuclear equilibrium
configuration and the relevant experimental observables.
