Anisotropic surface tension and the liquid drop model

The liquid drop model assumes that the surface tension of all nuclei is isotropic. The consequences of relaxing this assumption are studied. First a macroscopic theory of anisotropic surface tension is presented. Then with a particular choice for the functional form of the surface tension tensor, this theory is applied to a charged liquid drop. A small anisotropy in the surface tension can significantly distort a highly charged drop and lower its fission barrier.