Cascade exciton model analysis of energetic pion-induced fission of heavy nuclei: Target mass and projectile energy dependence

Abstract

A data bank of negative and positive (80–1665[Formula: see text]MeV) pion-induced experimental fission cross-sections of heavy nuclei from 119Sn to 238U is compiled using present results and published data from the literature. Corresponding calculations of fission cross-sections, using the cascade exciton model (CEM) are also included in the compilation. Fission cross-sections compiled in the data bank are examined critically. Mass and energy dependences of fission cross-sections are analyzed. Fission cross-sections of 238U targets are the highest and scale down approximately, for other targets studied, with fissility, [Formula: see text]. In the fissility expression, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are atomic and mass numbers of the target while [Formula: see text] refer to positive and negative pion projectiles. The presented data bank is of interest for students and researchers involved in the investigation of energetic light particle-induced fission of heavy nuclei. Nuclear fission of heavy nuclei has been classified into three regimes. Phenomenological discussion of the fission process is also given.