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Microscopic Phase-Space Exploration Modeling of ^{258}Fm Spontaneous Fission.

Yusuke Tanimura1, Denis Lacroix1, Sakir Ayik2

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Quantum fluctuations trigger variations in the total kinetic energy (TKE) and mass distribution during spontaneous nuclear fission. This study reproduces TKE using quantum collective phase space and time-dependent density-functional theory.

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Area of Science:

  • Nuclear Physics
  • Quantum Mechanics
  • Nuclear Fission

Background:

  • Spontaneous fission of heavy nuclei like Fermium-258 (²⁵⁸Fm) is a complex quantum process.
  • Understanding the energy and mass distributions of fission fragments is crucial for nuclear science.
  • Previous models often simplified the dynamics of the nucleus post-fission barrier.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To accurately reproduce the total kinetic energy (TKE) of nuclei after spontaneous fission.
  • To explore the role of quantum fluctuations in nuclear fission dynamics.
  • To gain new insights into the fission process, including scission time, deformation, and particle emission.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a stochastic mean-field approach to model phase-space exploration after the fission barrier.
  • Generated initial nuclear densities based on energy conservation and phase-space assumptions.
  • Employed nuclear time-dependent density-functional theory with pairing for time evolution, allowing symmetry breaking and enhanced phase-space exploration.

Main Results:

  • Successfully reproduced the total kinetic energy (TKE) of ²⁵⁸Fm spontaneous fission using quantum collective phase space assumptions.
  • Calculated distributions for TKE and fragment mass.
  • Revealed fluctuations in scission time, a strong correlation between TKE and collective deformation, and prescission particle emission.

Conclusions:

  • Quantum fluctuations are identified as the primary trigger for variations in TKE and mass distributions during spontaneous fission.
  • The employed theoretical framework provides a more comprehensive description of nuclear fission dynamics beyond simple mean-field approximations.
  • The study highlights the importance of quantum effects in understanding the detailed mechanisms of nuclear fission.