Fission Barrier for ²⁴⁰Pu in the Quadrupole Constrained Relativistic Mean Field Approach

The fission barrier for ²⁴⁰Pu is investigated beyond the second saddle point in the potential energy surface by the constrained relativistic mean field method with the newly proposed parameter set PK1. The microscopic correction for the centre-of-mass motion is essential to provide the correct potential energy surface. The shell effects that stabilize the nuclei against the fission is also investigated by the Strutinsky method. The shapes for the ground state, fission isomer and saddle-points, etc, are studied in detail.