Thermal-Neutron-Induced Fission ofTh229

Abstract

A back-to-back ionization chamber is used to measure the ${\mathrm{Th}}^{229}$ fission fragment kinetic energy distribution. This fission process is found to be the most asymmetric known, with a most probable mass ratio of 1.57. The measured total fragment energy is 160.2±3 Mev. The experimental results are compared with the characteristics of other fission processes and with theory.