Effect of differences in proton and neutron density distributions on fission barriers.

The neutron and proton density distributions obtained in constrained Hartree-Fock-Bogolyubov calculations with the Gogny force along the fission paths of 232Th, 236U, 238U, and 240Pu are analyzed. Significant differences in the multipole deformations of neutron and proton densities are found. The effect on potential energy surfaces and on barrier heights is studied under an additional constraint by imposing similar spatial distributions to neutrons and protons, as assumed in macroscopic-microscopic models.