Molecular Vibrational States in the Binary Cold Fission of 252Cf

We predict a molecular vibrational state in the cold binary fission of 252Cf using a simple decay cluster model. The Hamiltonian of two even–even fragments in the pole–pole configuration is built in the same fashion as that for the dinuclear molecule formed in heavy-ions collisions. The interaction between the two fragments is described by the double-folding M3Y potential. The spectrum of the butterfly vibrations is derived and its dependence on fragments deformation and mass-asymmetry is discussed. Some experimental implications are commented.