Observation of Anisotropy in the Fission Decay of Nuclei with Vanishing Fission Barrier

Fission angular distributions for nuclei formed by fusion of $^{32}\mathrm{S}$ and $^{197}\mathrm{Au}$, $^{232}\mathrm{Th}$, $^{238}\mathrm{U}$, $^{248}\mathrm{Cm}$ show an appreciable anisotropy although spherical saddle-point configurations are predicted for these systems by the rotating-liquid-drop model. The analysis of the data in terms of the statistical model indicate that composite systems of $Z=106, 108, \mathrm{and} 112$ have been formed with deformations $\ensuremath{\beta}<~0.35$.