  The saddle-to-scission dynamics of the induced fission process is explored
using a microscopic finite-temperature model based on time-dependent nuclear
density functional theory (TDDFT), that allows to follow the evolution of local
temperature along fission trajectories. Starting from a temperature that
corresponds to the experimental excitation energy of the compound system, the
model propagates the nucleons along isentropic paths toward scission. For the
four illustrative cases of induced fission of $^{240}$Pu, $^{234}$U,
$^{244}$Cm, and $^{250}$Cf, characteristic fission trajectories are considered,
and the partition of the total energy into various kinetic and potential energy
contributions at scission is analyzed, with special emphasis on the energy
dissipated along the fission path and the prescission kinetic energy. The model
is also applied to the dynamics of neck formation and rupture, characterized by
the formation of few-nucleon clusters in the low-density region between the
nascent fragments.
