Half-lives and the Fission Barrier

[phys4adummy]

I could use a basic explanation of how half-lives are associated with the fission barrier. Are half-lives still present in induced fission and not just spontaneous fission?

Thanks

 

[mfb]

In induced fission, the nucleus either reacts with the neutron or it does not. This is not time-related, and the probability that it reacts is usually expressed via its cross-section.

Spontaneous fission can occur at any time (if it is possible), so you can determine how frequent it happens in some sample, and give a half-life.