Hartree–Fock–Bogoliubov study of quantum shell effects on the path to fission in ¹⁸⁰ Hg, ²³⁶ U and ²⁵⁶ Fm

Quantum shell effects stabilising fission fragments with various shapes have been invoked as a factor determining the distribution of nucleons between the fragments at scission. Shell effects also induce asymmetric shapes in the nucleus on its way to fission well before the final fragments are (pre)formed. These shell effects are studied in fission of ¹⁸⁰Hg, ²³⁶U and ²⁵⁶Fm with constrained Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov calculations using the D1S parametrisation of the Gogny interaction. Strutinsky shell energy correction and single-particle energy level density near the Fermi surface are computed. Several neutron and proton shell effects are identified as drivers towards asymmetric fission. Shell effects are also used to identify the preformation of the fragments in the later stage of fission.