Distribution of mass and charge in the spontaneous fission of 244Cm

The distribution of mass and charge in the spontaneous fission of ²⁴⁴Cm has been investigated by radiochemical and mass spectrometric determination of the fission yields for 40 mass chains and 2 shielded nuclides (independent yields). The mass distribution is highly asymmetric with a relative probability of asymmetric-to-symmetric fission (peak-to-valley ratio) of greater than 5700. The average masses of the light and heavy groups are 103.1 and 138.7, respectively. The characteristics of the mass distribution, as well as the division of nuclear charge indicated by the independent yields of the two shielded nuclides, are consistent with the systematics established from other studies of low-energy fission.