  A production mechanism of highly excited nuclei formed in violent collisions
in the Fermi energy domain is investigated. The collision of two nuclei is
decomposed into several stages which are treated separately. Simplified exciton
concept is used for the description of pre-equilibrium emission. A modified
spectator-participant scenario is used where motion along classical Coulomb
trajectories is assumed. The participant and one of the spectator zones undergo
incomplete fusion. Excitation energies of both cold and hot fragment are
determined. Results of the calculation are compared to recent experimental data
in the Fermi energy domain. Data on hot projectile-like, mid-velocity and
fusion-like sources are described consistently. Geometric aspects of
pre-equilibrium emission are revealed. Explanations to previously unexplained
experimental phenomena are given. Energy deposited into non-thermal degrees of
freedom is estimated.
