Fission of spin-aligned projectile-like nuclei in the interactions of 29 MeV/nucleon 208Pb with 197Au

Abstract Binary fission of projectile-like nuclei has been investigated in the interaction of 29 MeV/nucleon Pb on Au, together with the associated neutron multiplicity. Fission is only observed in rather peripheral collisions and represents approximately 20% of the total reaction cross-section. The fission process occurs after collisions in which up to 550 MeV have been dissipated. The angular and energy distribution of the fragments can be accounted for by assuming a noticeable spin alignment of the fissioning nuclei.