Narrow Results

A data bank of negative and positive (80–1665MeV) pion-induced experimental fission cross-sections of heavy nuclei from ¹¹⁹Sn to ²³⁸U is compiled using present results and published data from the literature. Corresponding calculations of fission cross-sections, using the cascade exciton model (CEM) are also included in the compilation. Fission cross-sections compiled in the data bank are examined critically. Mass and energy dependences of fission cross-sections are analyzed. Fission cross-sections of ²³⁸U targets are the highest and scale down approximately, for other targets studied, with fissility, $\frac{{(Z\pm 1)}^2}{A}$. In the fissility expression, $Z$ and $A$ are atomic and mass numbers of the target while $\pm 1$ refer to positive and negative pion projectiles. The presented data bank is of interest for students and researchers involved in the investigation of energetic light particle-induced fission of heavy nuclei. Nuclear fission of heavy nuclei has been classified into three regimes. Phenomenological discussion of the fission process is also given.