Fission barriers of two odd-neutron actinide nuclei taking into account the time-reversal symmetry breaking at the mean-field level

Abstract

Background: For a long time, fission barriers of actinide nuclei have been mostly microscopically calculated for even-even fissioning systems. Calculations in the case of odd nuclei have been performed merely within a so-called equal-filling approximation (EFA) as opposed to an approach taking explicitly into account the time-reversal-breaking properties at the mean-field level - and for only one single-particle configuration. Purpose: We study the dependence of the fission barriers on various relevant configurations (e.g., to evaluate the so-called specialization energy). In addition, we want to assess the relevance of the EFA approach as a function of the deformation, which has been already found for the ground-state deformation. Methods: Calculations within the Hartree-Fock plus BCS approach with self-consistent particle blocking have been performed by using the SkM∗ Skyrme effective interaction in the particle-hole channel and a seniority force in the particle-particle channel. Axial symmetry has been imposed throughout the whole fission path while the intrinsic parity symmetry has been allowed to be broken in the outer fission barrier region. Results: Potential-energy curves have been determined for six different configurations in U235 and four in Pu239. Inner and outer fission barriers have been calculated along with some spectroscopic properties in the fission isomeric well. These results have been compared with available data. The influence of time-reversal-breaking mean fields on the solutions has been investigated. Conclusions: A sizable configuration dependence of the fission barrier (width and height) has been demonstrated. A reasonable agreement with available systematic evaluations of fission-barrier heights has been found. The EFA approach has been validated at the large elongations occurring at the outer-barrier region.