A general overview of nuclear fission is presented. The probability of fission is described based on developed models including the liquid drop model and shell corrections. Discussion on spontaneous fission and fissioning isomers is given. The transition nucleus and fission product distributions are discussed. The total kinetic energy, mass distribution, and charge distribution during fission are presented. Changes in fission product distribution with parent properties are introduced. Delayed neutrons from fission and their role in reactors are given. Proton induced fission is introduced.
I finished watching this lecture and was left confused about the fission isomer process. Was it the parent isotope that was becoming excited before fissioning or was it the fission products which were occupying an isomeric state? Would it be possible to discuss the single and double well energy diagrams?
ReplyDeleteThe fission isomer is an excited nuclear state, similar to the metastable states that usually decay by gamma emission. For these heavy nuclei instead of decaying by gamma emission the excited state decays by fission. More information can be found on page 169 in Nuclear and Radiochemistry.
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting learning about the different ways in which fission can occur, and the energetics behind it. It helped give me some more background on why fast reactors are used to fission U-238 and other heavy elements that would normally be absorbers of thermal neutrons.
ReplyDeletethis was cool, fission and fusion has always been a fascination.
ReplyDeleteI like the use of the shell model and nilsson diagrams to show how spin and parity originate from.
ReplyDeleteOops that was for lecture 8.
DeleteDoes subbarrier fission also have to overcome two wells or just one?
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