The factors influencing the trajectory of long-range 𝛼-particle in the cold ternary fission of ²⁵²Cf are discussed. The trajectory of the 𝛼-particle is studied by considering the influence of the force on the 𝛼-particle due to Coulomb and proximity potentials and is found to have sensitive dependence on the initial position and initial energy of the 𝛼-particle. The sensitivity to initial conditions signifies the presence of deterministic chaos which is characterized by Lyapunov exponent (LE). The LE is calculated using Wolf’s algorithm and found positive which implies that the objectives of trajectory calculations are restricted.

The energy costs in the cold ternary fission of ²⁵²Cf for various light charged particle emission are calculated by includingWong's correction for Coulomb potential. Energy cost is found to be higher in cold fission than in normal fission. It is found that energy cost always increases with decrease in experimental yield in all the light charged particle emissions. The higher ground state deformation of the fragments, the odd–even effect and the enhanced yield in the octupole region observed in cold fission are found to be consistent with the concept of energy cost.