Angular Distribution of Fission Fragments at Threshold According to the Bohr Model

Abstract

The sideways-peaked angular distribution of fragments from neutron-induced fission of ${\mathrm{Th}}^{232}$ near threshold, measured by Brolley and Henkel, is found to be consistent with the model of A. Bohr. It is assumed that the saddle-point states through which the fissioning nucleus passes include primarily only a few members of a particular rotational band. Indications are adduced that this band has $K=\frac{3}{2}$ and odd parity.