Scission Dynamics with K Partitions

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new framework for modeling nuclear fission dynamics at the scission point using K quantum numbers, revealing significant rearrangements and diverse fragment shapes post-scission.

Contribution

It develops a discrete basis approach for nuclear fission dynamics based on K partitions, providing new insights into configuration rearrangements at scission.

Findings

Major rearrangement of K occupancy factors at scission

Diverse fragment shapes emerge from similar pre-scission states

Pre-scission configurations remain stable under mean-field dynamics

Abstract

We propose a framework to calculate the dynamics at the scission point of nuclear fission, based as far as possible on a discrete representation of orthogonal many-body configurations. Assuming axially symmetric scission shapes, we use the $K$ orbital quantum number to build a basis of wave functions. Pre-scission configurations are stable under mean-field dynamics while post-scission configurations evolve to separated fragments. In this first exploratory study, we analyze a typical fission trajectory through to scission in terms of these configurations. We find that there is a major rearrangement of the $K$ occupancy factors at scission. Interestingly, very different fragment shapes occur in the post-scission configurations, even starting from the same pre-scission configuration.