Systematic Approach to Calculate the Total Kinetic Energy Distribution of Actinides for the Photofission Phenomenon

Abstract

The total kinetic energy as a function of fragment mass (TKE/A) was calculated for photofission of $${}^{232}$$ Th, $${}^{234}$$ U, $${}^{238}$$ U, $${}^{240}$$ Pu, and $${}^{242}$$ Pu using a systematic statistical scission point model. In the proposed systematic method, all the energies involved in fission need to be expressed as a function of mass and atomic numbers of fission fragments. Therefore, the shell correction energy of fission fragments was approximated in terms of fission fragment mass numbers based on Ruben’s idea. The deformability parameter ( $$\alpha$$ ) of fission fragments was also formulated as a function of mass and atomic numbers of fission fragments by fitting the calculations and experimental data according to Terrell’s formulas. The calculated results are in good agreement with the experimental data, except for fragments with magic numbers, which their shell correction energy and deformability parameters change rapidly.