NEW OBSERVATION OF SPACE-PARITY VIOLATION IN NEUTRON-INDUCED FISSION OF TH-229, PU-241 AND AM-241

The space-parity violating effect of the asymmetry of light fragment a ngular distributions relative to the polarization of cold neutrons ind ucing Th-229, Pu-241 and Am-241 fission has been observed for the firs t time with the following values for the P-odd asymmetry coefficients: - (5.6 +/- 0.2) x 10(-4), - (0.89 +/- 0.04) x 10(-4) and -(1.0 +/- 0. 25) x 10(-4), respectively. In addition the following P-odd asymmetry coefficients have been obtained for U-233 (used as a standard) and for the subbarier fission of Np-237: (3.67 +/- 0.06) x 10(-4) and - (3.3 +/- 3.7) x 10(-4), respectively. For all fissile targets studied, exce pt Np-237, P-odd asymmetry coefficients for three separate intervals o f the heavy fragment kinetic energy have been evaluated and found to b e equal to the average values for each target.