Search for ternary fragmentation in the reaction 856 MeV Mo-98+V-51: kinematic probing of intermediate-mass-fragment emissions

A new technique has been applied to coincidence measurements between fissio n fragments (FF) and intermediate mass fragments (IMF) emitted from the com posite system Tb-149(65) at an excitation energy of 224 MeV. The method per mits simultaneous observation of IMF emissions along and normal to the FF s eparation axes. For the integrated total of 0.10 +/- 0.02 IMF emitted per f ission, we find no significant correlation with FF direction, suggesting th at IMFs associated with fission reactions are predominantly emitted from th e system prior to fission. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserv ed.