Excitation energy propagation and angular momentum generation in the nuclear fission process

Abstract

The nuclear fission process, in which the splitting of a heavy nucleus results in a significant energy release, is a fascinating arena for studying the interplay between nuclear and Coulomb forces in heavy nuclei. There is no complete theoretical description of fission, and understanding this intricate process is important both for fundamental science as well as nuclear reactor applications. This thesis studies how the excitation energy and the angular momentum of the fission fragments are determined and which aspects of fission might impact this determination. These questions are investigated experimentally by introducing changes to the fissioning system and observing the impact on the 𝛾 rays emitted from the fragments as they de-excite. Different experimental techniques are used to probe various features of the 𝛾-ray emission, and the results represent important steps forward in understanding angular momentum generation and excitation energy propagation in nuclear fission.