Fission of Rhenium by Intermediate-Energy Helium Ions

Cross sections have been determined radiochemically for twelve nuclides resulting from fission which was induced by the 40.9-MeV ${\mathrm{He}}^4$ ion bombardment of naturally occurring ${\mathrm{Re}}^{185,187}$. The mass distribution was observed to be symmetric, with a full width at half maximum of 23±2 mass units. The average number of prompt neutrons emitted per fission event was 1±1, and the total fission cross section was found to be 2.4±0.6 μb. These results are compared with those from fission of other nuclei.