How to produce new superheavy nuclei?

Abstract

Existing experimental facilities limit the possibilities for discovery of new nuclides to those synthesized with cross sections above 100 fb, but the perspectives for future high current accelerators could lower this limit by two orders of magnitude. Therefore, in the present work excitation functions for fusion-$xn$ evaporation reaction channels induced not only by ${}^{48}Ca$ but also by heavier projectiles (usually leading to smaller cross sections) on actinide targets were calculated in the framework of the fusion-by-diffusion (FBD) model. For the first time, in this approach, channels in which a proton ($pxn$) or alpha particle ($\alpha$$xn$) is evaporated have been included in the first step of the deexcitation cascade. To calculate the synthesis cross sections entry data such as fission barriers, ground-state masses, deformations and shell effects of the superheavy nuclei calculated in a consistent way within the Warsaw macroscopic-microscopic model were used. The only adjustable parameter of the FBD model is the injection point distance $s_{inj}$ and the value determined in our previous analysis of experimental cross sections for the synthesis of superheavy nuclei of Z=114-118 has been used. Excitation functions for the synthesis of selected (cross section above a few fb) new superheavies in the range of atomic numbers 112-120 are presented. Observation of 21 new heaviest isotopes is predicted. A realistic discussion of the FBD model uncertainties is presented for the first time.

References in corpus (4)

• New Result in the Production and Decay of an Isotope, 278[113], of the 113th Element
• Theoretical study of the synthesis of superheavy nuclei with Z= 119 and 120 in heavy-ion reactions with trans-uranium targets
• Predictions of the FBD model for the synthesis cross sections of Z = 114-120 elements based on macroscopic-microscopic fission barriers
• Calculations of the cross sections for synthesis of new {293-296}118 isotopes in {249-252}Cf(48Ca,xn) reactions

Cited by in corpus (7)

• Properties of heaviest nuclei with $98\le Z\le 126$ and $134\le N\le 192$
• Level-density parameters in superheavy nuclei
• Examination of promising reactions with ${}^{241}$Am and ${}^{244}$Cm targets for the synthesis of new superheavy elements within the dinuclear system model with a dynamical potential energy surface
• Optimal colliding energy for the synthesis of superheavy element $Z$=119
• Potential energy surfaces and fission fragment mass yields of even-even superheavy nuclei
• The Fusion-by-Diffusion model as a tool to calculate cross sections for the production of superheavy nuclei
• Multi-step particle emission probabilities in superheavy nuclei at moderate excitation energies