Binary fission of Th induced by 4He ions at 0.65-12.7 GeV

The binary fission process in the 0.65-12.7 GeV 4He+Th interactions has been analyzed using the polycarbonate track detector 'Makrofol' in the form of a sandwich. The decay channels ending with one, two and more (three, four) fragments were detected. The binary fission events have been identified using the correlation between the common observables which characterize fission events. The binary fission cross section, mass loss prior to fission, excitation energy and linear momentum transfer have been determined, and their variation as a function of the projectile energy has been investigated. (authors)