Prompt Fission Yields and Total Kinetic Energy Behavior from Time-of-Flight Measurements

Abstract

The thermal-neutron fission of U/sup 233/,U/sup 235/, Pu/sup 23/ >s/sup 9/, and Cf/sup 252/ is studied. The total kinetic energy of the fission products is measured and calculated as a function of the heavy fission product mass number. A large drop is observed in the total kinetic energy near symmetric fission. The fine structure of the mass yields is shown by means of mass-energy contour diagrams. (T.F.H.)