Statistical model of heavy-ion fusion-fission reactions

Methods commonly used to estimate the Bohr-Wheeler fission decay width are incorrect for several reasons. After making corrections to standard computational techniques, we find the cross-section and neutron-emission data from heavy-ion fusion-fission reactions are consistent with the fission of fully equilibrated systems with fission lifetime estimates obtained via a Kramers-modified statistical model. The strong increase in the nuclear viscosity above a temperature of $\sim $1.3 MeV deduced by others is an artifact generated by an inadequate model.