Semiclassical Interpretation of the Mass Asymmetry in Nuclear Fission

We give a semiclassical interpretation of the mass asymmetry in the fission of heavy nuclei. Using only a few classical periodic orbits and a cavity model for the nuclear mean field, we reproduce the onset of left-right asymmetric shapes at the fission isomer minimum and the correct topology of the deformation energy surface of ${}^{240}\mathrm{Pu}$ in the region of the outer fission barrier.