On Ternary Fission Induced by Neutrons

Abstract

Experiments on measuring the rotational effect of the ²³⁴U fissile nucleus at the scission point showed that the fissile nucleus rotates as a right screw with respect to the longitudinally polarized neutron beam direction in the ternary fission of the ²³³U target nucleus induced by polarized s-neutrons; in the binary fission of the same nuclei it rotates in the opposite direction. Moreover, it was found that ternary fission “prefers” the spin state of J = I +1/2. This phenomenon cannot be explained within the existing concepts of ternary fission as one of the two “final” states after neck rupture. The same “parent” ²³⁴U nucleus cannot rotate in opposite directions in the two different final states. It should be assumed that ternary fission is a special branch of descent from the saddle point to the point of neck rupture. It can also be assumed that this branch is formed at the saddle point in a configuration favorable for cluster formation. Why does it prefer the spin state of J = I + 1/2? This is an interesting question for further studies.