Angular momenta of flssion fragments in the fi-accompanied flssion of 252 Cf

For the flrst time, average angular momenta of the ternary flssion fragments 100;102 Zr, 106 Mo, 144;146 Ba and 138;140;142 Xe from the fi-accompanied flssion of 252 Cf were obtained from relative intensities of prompt ∞-ray transitions with the use of the statistical model calculation. Average values of the angular momenta were compared with the corresponding values for the same flssion fragments from the binary flssion of 252 Cf. Results indicate the presence of a decreasing trend in the average values of angular momenta induced in ternary flssion fragments compared to the same binary flssion fragments. On the average, the total angular momentum extracted for ternary flssion fragments is »1.4 ~ lower than in binary flssion. Consequently, results indicate that the mechanism of the ternary fi-particles emission may directly efiect an induction of angular momenta of flssion fragments, and possible scenarios of such mechanisms are discussed. Further, the dependence of the angular momenta of 106 Mo and 140 Xe on the number of emitted neutrons from correlated pairs of primary fragments was obtained also showing a decreasing dependence of average angular momenta with increasing number of emitted neutrons. Consequences are brie∞y discussed.