A four-dimensional dynamical model based on Langevin equations was developed and applied to calculate a wide set of experimental observables for the reactions 16 O + 208 Pb → 224 Th and 16 O + 232 Th → 248 Cf over a wide range of excitation energy. The fusion-fission and evaporation residue cross sections, fission fragment mass-energy distribution parameters, prescission neutron multiplicities, and anisotropy of angular distribution of fission fragments could be reasonably reproduced using a modified one-body mechanism for nuclear friction with a reduction coefficient of the contribution from a wall formula k s 0.25 and a dissipation coefficient for the orientation degree of freedom (K coordinate) γ K 0.077 (MeV zs) −1/2 . Inclusion of the K coordinate into calculation of potential energy changes the stiffness of the nucleus with respect to mass asymmetry coordinate for the values of K = 0 and results in a shift of the Businaro-Gallone point towards larger Z 2 /A values. The experimental data on the fission fragment mass-energy distribution parameters together with mean prescission neutron multiplicity for heavy fissioning nuclei are reproduced through the four-dimensional Langevin calculations more accurately than through three-dimensional calculations.

A stochastic approach to fission dynamics based on three-dimensional Langevin equations was applied to calculation of the mass-energy and angular distributions of fission fragments. The dependence of the mass-energy distribution parameters on the angular momentum and the anisotropy of the fission-fragment angular distribution on excitation energy have been studied in a wide range of the fissility parameter. A temperature-dependent finite-range liquid-drop model was used in a consistent way to calculate the functional of the Helmholtz free energy and level-density parameter. The modified one-body mechanism of nuclear dissipation (the so-called surface-plus-window dissipation) was used to determine the dissipative forces in Langevin equations. The evaporation of light prescission particles was taken into account on the basis of a statistical model combined with Langevin dynamics. The calculated parameters of the mass-energy distribution and their angular dependencies are in good quantitative agreement with the available experimental data at the value of the reduction coefficient of the contribution from the wall formula equal to 0.25. Analysis of the anisotropy of the fission-fragment angular distribution performed with the saddle-point transition state model and scission-point transition state model indicates that it is necessary to take into account the dynamical aspects of the fission-fragment angular distribution formation.

A generalized finite-range liquid-drop model based on the Yukawa-plusexponential potential was applied to describe fission dynamics of hot rotating nuclei. The potential energy, level-density parameter and Helmholtz free energy are calculated in a consistent way by using the generalized finiterange liquid-drop model. The level-density parameter was approximated by a leptodermous-type expression. The coefficients of this expansion are in surprisingly good agreement with those obtained earlier by Ignatyuk and co-workers. The results of Langevin dynamical calculations of the mean prescission neutron multiplicity and fission probability are practically the same both for the level-density parameter calculated with Ignatyuk's coefficients and the one calculated using the generalized finite-range liquid-drop model. This fact lets us assume that all previous results of dynamical Langevin calculations performed with Ignatyuk's level-density parameter stay reliable.

The review covers recent developments and achievements in the dynamical description of fission process at high excitation energy. It is shown that the dynamical approach based on multidimensional Langevin equations combined with the statistical description of nuclear decay by particles evaporation is capable of fairly well describing the formation of fission fragment mass-energy, charge, and angular distributions of fission fragments in coincidence with the pre-and post-scission particle emission. The final yields of fission and evaporation residues channels products could be obtained. The detailed description of fission dynamics allows studying different stages of fission process, indicating the most important ingredients governing fission process and studying in detail such fundamental nuclear properties as nuclear viscosity and fission timescale. The tasks and perspectives of multidimensional dynamical approach are also discussed.

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