Nuclear Fission as a Correlation-Access Cliff: A Minimal Diagnostic Framework

Nuclear Fission as a Correlation-Access Cliff: A Minimal Diagnostic Framework Summary This preprint proposes that nuclear fission scission occurs as a correlation-access cliff—the simultaneous collapse of pairing correlations and neck connectivity. Diagnostic A minimal cliff indicator is defined: κ_fiss(q) = Δ̃(q) × C̃_neck(q) where: q: collective deformation coordinate (quadrupole moment Q₂₀) Δ̃(q): normalized pairing correlation C̃_neck(q): normalized neck connectivity The product structure ensures that a cliff occurs only when both quantities collapse simultaneously. Falsifiable Predictions Label Prediction Test Case P1 (cliff) Fissile nuclei exhibit sharp κ_fiss drop near scission ²⁴⁰Pu P2 (null) Stable nuclei show no cliff under deformation scan ²⁰⁸Pb P3 (robust) Cliff location invariant across EDF choices Method comparison Key Statement The ingredient is known; the syntax is new. This framework does not introduce new nuclear physics. It reframes established quantities (pairing gap, neck parameter) into a cliff-detection grammar. Version v1.0 (January 4, 2026): Theoretical framework and predictions. Schematic figure included. v1.1 (planned): Numerical validation with HFB/DFT data. Contents preprint.pdf — Main manuscript (5 pages) preprint.tex — LaTeX source figure1_schematic.png/pdf — Prediction schematic generate_figure.py — Figure reproduction script README.md — Repository documentation License CC-BY 4.0 Author Takayuki TakagiIndependent Researcher, Higashimatsuyama, Saitama, JapanORCID: 0009-0003-5188-2314Email: lemissio@gmail.com