Fragment angular momentum and descent dynamics in 252Cf spontaneous fission

Fragment angular momenta as a function of neutron multiplicity were extracted for the first time for the Mo-Ba and Zr-Ce charge splits of 252Cf by studying prompt coincident γ-rays. The obtained primary fragment angular momenta do not continuously rise with the increase in the number of neutrons evaporated. In frame of the scission point bending oscillation model such regularity is explained due the decrease of the bending temperature. Adiabatic bending oscillations (T=0) are obtained at large (νtot>5) and small (νtot=0) scission point elongation. These oscillations are excited to the temperature of 2 - 3 MeV for the most probable scission configurations indicating a weak coupling between collective and internal degrees of freedom. A strong coupling between the collective bending and dipole oscillations was found. copyright 1998 American Institute of Physics