Abstract. The deformation dependence of the particle number uncertainty (incorporated in almost all fission calculations via the BCS theory) is analyzed. The more elaborate particle number projection after BCS variation (PBCS), utilized in this paper, indicates fluctuations of the BCS pairing energy all over the Potential Energy Surface (PES) due to different particle number uncertainties. For significant deformation points of the PES calculated for ²⁴⁰₉₄Pu₁₄₆ these energy fluctuations are going up to 0.9 MeV. The smallest particle number uncertainty and energy difference obtained is localized in the vicinity of the isomer minimum. So far the surface dependence of the BCS strength parameters has not been considered.

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