Statistical model investigation of nuclear fission

To assist in the improvement of fission product yield data libraries, the statistical theory of fission was investigated. Calculation of the theory employs a recent nuclear mass formula and nuclear density of states expression. Yields computed with a simple statement of the theory do not give satisfactory results. A slowly varying empirical parameter is introduced to improve agreement between measured and calculated yields. The parameter is interpreted as the spacing between the tips of the fragments at the instant of scission or as the length of a neck in the fissioning nucleus immediately prior to scission. With this spacing parameter semi-quantitative agreement is obtained between calculated and measured mass chain yields for six cases investigated, /sup 233/U(n/sub th/, f), /sup 235/U(n/sub th, f), /sup 239/Pu(n/sub th/, f), /sup 235/U(n+14, f), /sup 238/U(n+14, f), and /sup 252/Cf(sf). An indication of the source of mass asymmetry in fission is presented. The model developed predicts a mass and energy dependence of some of the parameters of models currently in use in data generation. A procedure for the estimation of the fission product yields for an arbitrary fissioning system is proposed. 63 references.