Prompt muon-induced fission: a probe for nuclear energy dissipation

Abstract

We solve the time-dependent Dirac equation for a muon which is initially bound to a fissioning actinide nucleus. The computations are carried out on a 3-D cartesian lattice utilizing the Basis-Spline collocation method. The muon dynamics is sensitive to the nuclear energy dissipation between the outer fission barrier and the scission point. From a comparison with experimental data we find a dissipated energy of about 10 MeV and a fission time delay due to friction of order $2\times 10^{-21}$ s.

Comments: 10 pages, 3 figures, Proceedings ("Nuclear Shapes and Motions", a Symposium in Honor of Ray Nix, Santa Fe, Oct. 25-27, 1998)