COLD DEFORMED FISSION OF URANIUM IN THE REGION OF HIGH-MASS ASYMMETRY

The mass-energy spectrum of the fragments of U-236 fission is investig ated in the mass region below 85 amu. The yield of nickel and iron iso topes is found to be approximately 10(-3)%; this value is higher than the yield of these isotopes for other fissile nuclei. The existence of a new fission channel associated with the proton shell P = 28 is assu med. The experimental kinetic-energy distribution is used to find the spectrum of scission deformations of Gd isotopes in highly asymmetric fission. The corresponding beta-deformation parameter is distributed a round an average value of 0.84, which is in good agreement with the pr edicted value. The role of the scission barrier is demonstrated.