Abstract
Pre-scission neutron multiplicities from fission of the compound nuclei 210,212,214,216Rn have been measured in
order to investigate the N/Z dependence of fission hindrance. The Rn isotopes are populated through the fusion of
16,18O + 194,198Pt systems and are formed at four excitation energies in the range of 50–79 MeV. The experimental
pre-scission neutron yield is compared with predictions from the statistical model of compound nuclear decay
containing the strength of nuclear dissipation as a free parameter. The strength of nuclear dissipation obtained in
the present analysis does not show any specific dependence on the N/Z values of the fissioning nuclei at large
excitation energies. The dissipation strength at the lowest excitation energy, however, indicates a shell closure
effect at N = 126 for the 212Rn isotope.