Neutron-Induced Fission

Abstract

Since the discovery of n-induced fission of uranium isotopes in 1939 a huge amount of data has been accumulated on the probability of the process and on the properties of fission fragments. Fission induced by neutrons in the actinides is the best studied reaction of nuclear physics. In the introduction of the present survey of the process first some basic notions relevant in fission are recalled. The main part of the paper is focused on the properties of fission fragments. Mass distributions of fragments are considered together with their interpretation in terms of symmetric, asymmetric and superasymmetric modes. Kinetic and excitation energies of fragments are discussed as a function of both, the nuclei undergoing fission and the fragment masses. In the nuclear charge distributions it is the even-odd staggering in the yields which is of major interest. Finally neutron and gamma emission from fragments are discussed. Their importance for the operation of nuclear power stations is highlighted.