Study of fission channels in even-even actinide nuclei using a monochromatic polarized photon beam

We discuss the advantages that can be attained in performing photofission experiments by using a linearly polarized photon beam. The features of the longitudinal and transversal fragment angular distributions in fission induced by polarized photons are shown. A procedure to extract information on the fission channels is worked out in details. An experimental arrangement for the measurements of the photofission angular distributions is finally suggested, also in connection with the main characteristics of a polarized monochromatic photon beam now available at the Frascati National Laboratories (Italy