Fine structure in fragment mass-energy distribution from 238U+40Ar (275 MeV)

Existence of a new feature in fragment mass-energy distribution is reported. Careful analysis of the data obtained in the reaction 238U + 40Ar (275 MeV) shows that small but statistically significant ripples visible already in the gross mass spectrum come from extended and regular 2D patterns in the TKE vs. mass matrix. Intensity distributions of these patterns coincide with the location of heavy clusters such as 78Ni, 108Mo, or 132Sn. Presumably, the observed patterns show the dominant trajectories in the elongation vs. mass-asymmetry space of the decaying system. This information, unknown in the past, can shed a new light even on the previously well-studied reactions.