Calculations of fission parameters based on a "molecular model" of fission

A 'molecular model' of fission, in which a fragment separation of 4.0 fm defines the scission point, is proposed. Using the fragment separation distance as a free parameter, the sum of the coulomb and deformation energies for the scission configuration is minimized. This provides a method for calculating the kinetic energies of fragments both at the scission point and at infinite separation. The fragment deformation energies have also been calculated.