Equilibrium shapes and fission barriers of rotating nuclei with a macroscopic two-center model

Equilibrium shapes and fission barriers of rotating nuclei have been calculated using a macroscopic two-center model, with a finite-range nuclear force and a diffuse nuclear surface. Our model differs from the rotating-liquid-drop model of Cohen, Plasil, and Swiatecki in the shape parametrization and in the calculations of the surface, Coulomb, and rotational energies. We use the two-center-model shape parametrization, which allows for triaxial shape variations and a continuous transition from one-center to two-center shapes with a smooth neck. We calculate the surface energy with the Yukawa-plus-exponential folding function of Krappe, Nix, and Sierk, which incorporates the effects of the finite range of the nuclear force and the diffuse nuclear surface, and calculate both the Coulomb and rotational energies with surface diffuseness described by a Yukawa folding function. The calculation includes beta-stable nuclei up to mass number $A=250\mathrm{}$ and selected nuclei off the line of beta stability. The results are compared with the predictions of the rotating-liquid-drop model and with experimental results statistically deduced from heavy-ion induced reactions.