Deformation Energy of a Charged Drop. I. Qualitative Features

The qualitative features of the deformation energy of a charged drop are discussed with special reference to the fission process. It is shown that, under conditions more general than the model of an incompressible liquid drop with a sharp surface, the threshold energy for fission should be proportional to [(Z²A)₀-(Z²A)]³ near the limit of stability (Z²A)₀. Similarly, if instability against asymmetry sets in below (Z²A)c, the degree of asymmetry of the asymmetric saddle-point shapes which appear should be proportional to [(Z²A)c-(Z²A)]1/2 and the difference between the symmetric and asymmetric thresholds should be proportional to [(Z²A)c-(Z²A)]². Some factors governing the stability against asymmetry of a strongly deformed drop are discussed qualitatively.