Time-dependent generator coordinate method study of fission: Dissipation effects

Starting from a quantum theory of dissipation for nuclear collective motion introduced by Kerman and Koonin [Phys. Scr. 10, 118 (1974)], the time-dependent generator coordinate method (TDGCM) is extended to allow for dissipation effects in the description of induced fission dynamics. The extension is based on a generalization of the GCM generating functions that includes excited states, and the resulting equation of motion in the collective coordinates and excitation energy. With the assumption of a narrow Hamiltonian kernel, an expansion in a power series in collective momenta leads to a Schrodinger-like equation that explicitly includes a dissipation term, proportional to the momentum of the statistical wave function. An illustrative calculation is performed for induced fission of Th-228. The three-dimensional model space includes the axially symmetric quadrupole and octupole shape variables, and the nuclear temperature. When compared with data for photoinduced fission of Th-228, the calculated fission yields demonstrate the important role of the additional term in the Hamiltonian that explicitly takes into account the dissipation of energy of collective motion into intrinsic degrees of freedom.