Fissiogenesis

Fissiogenesis is a term used in nuclear physics to describe the process of nuclear fission, specifically focusing on the moment of separation into daughter nuclei. While nuclear fission is the broader phenomenon of a heavy atomic nucleus splitting into two or more lighter nuclei, fissiogenesis emphasizes the immediate prelude and act of this splitting. It encompasses the instability of the parent nucleus, often induced by neutron absorption, and the subsequent deformation and eventual breaking apart.

During fissiogenesis, the nucleus enters a highly energetic and unstable state. This state is characterized by significant deformation, often described by the liquid drop model of the nucleus, where the nucleus elongates and develops a "neck." The strong nuclear force, which binds nucleons together, is overcome by the repulsive electrostatic forces between the protons. This leads to a rapid acceleration of the two nascent fragments away from each other.

The result of fissiogenesis is the creation of two or more fission fragments, which are typically smaller nuclei, along with the release of a significant amount of energy. This energy is manifested as kinetic energy of the fragments and emitted neutrons, as well as gamma rays. Understanding fissiogenesis is crucial for controlling nuclear reactions in power plants and for studying the properties of nuclear matter under extreme conditions. The precise mechanisms and probabilities of different fission outcomes are complex and are areas of ongoing research in nuclear science.