Production of Heavy Nuclides in 440-MeV Proton Fission of Uranium

Abstract

The recoil properties of 20 nuclides of mass about 140 formed in the 440-MeV proton fission of uranium were determined. The average kinetic energy, cascade deposition energy, and angular anisotropy for each fission product were calculated from the recoil results. The kinetic energy and excitation energy of the primary fragments leading to these fission products, and the total kinetic energy and excitation energy of the primary-fragment pair, were calculated from those of the fission products. The primary-fragment results indicate a dependence of the deformation of the fissioning nucleus on its excitation energy, and explain the trends observed in the kinetic energy and cascade deposition energy of the fission products. The theory used to explain the angular distribution of fission products produced by low-energy (