Most Probable Charge of Fission Products in Proton-Induced Fission of ²³⁸U and ²³²Th

Abstract

The charge distributions of fission products in proton-induced fission of ²³⁸U and ²³²Th were measured in a wide mass range. The most probable charges lay on the proton-rich side in the light fragment region and on the proton-deficient side in the heavy one compared with the unchanged charge distribution hypothesis. This result implies that the charge polarization occurs in the fission process. The charge polarization was examined with respect to the ground-state Q values. The estimations by the Q values fairly well reproduced the experimental most probable charges. These results suggest that the fission path to the most favorable charge division may go through the most energetically favorable path at scission point.