Fission-fragment energy correlation measurements for 252Cf(sf) and structures in far-out asymmetric fission

Fragment-mass and kinetic-energy distribution measurements for 252Cf(sf) have been extended to the far-out asymmetric low-yield fission region of Msub(H) = 190 compared with the existing data that go up to Msub(H) proportional 168. The mass yield Y(m) shows a shoulder for Msub(H) proportional 163 and an important enhancement for Msub(H) > or approx. 176. The (m), sigmasub(EK)(m) and, to a lesser extent, Y(m) distributions show strong and correlated amplitude fluctuations for Msub(H) > or approx. 170. These data indicate strong and rapid changes in deformation of the nascent fragments and the coexistence of more than one deformed-shell stabilized scission configuration for the same mass splits. These structures and those present in the relatively high-yield regions are discussed in terms of the static macro-microscopic potential-energy calculations. (orig.)