Features of the Fission Fragments Formed in the Heavy Ion induced $$^{32}hbox {S}$$32S + $$^{197}hbox {Au}$$197Au reaction near the interaction barrier

The features of fission fragments formed in the near barrier reaction $$^{32}\hbox {S}$$ + $$^{197}\hbox {Au}$$ ($$E^\mathrm{lab}_\mathrm{beam}=166\,\hbox {MeV}$$) are investigated. The measurement was performed at the ALTO facility of IPN Orsay, France, with the aim of clarifying the quantitative contribution of the quasi-fission process to the total fission events. The mass and total kinetic energy of the fission fragments were compared to the expectations of the liquid drop model, revealing an asymmetric fission component which may be traced back to a quasi-fission process mixed with the fusion–fission events. The $$\gamma $$-rays and neutrons measured in coincidence with the fission fragments were used to yield additional information for the discrimination of the two aforementioned mechanisms. All observed trends are consistent and fairly well reproduced by the statistical model.