Dissipation effects in cluster fission.
The fission of Sr(2+)(n) is studied from time-of-flight (TOF) measurements. The TOF acts both as a mass spectrometer and as a velocity dispersion analyzer. Evidence of the postfission ejection of a fast neutral atom is shown. It is explained assuming a strong deformation of the fissioning system at the transition state. The relaxation of the deformation energy into vibrations promotes the evaporation of the large fragment.