The analysis of reactions leading to synthesis of super heavy elements within the dinuclear system concept

The dinuclear system concept of complete fusion of nuclei has been applied to the analysis of superheavy elements synthesis. The optimal excitation energy of compound nuclei and production cross sections in the cold synthesis of heavy elements with charge Z=102–112 have been calculated. The possibility of synthesizing the element with magic number Z=114 in cold and hot fusion reactions has been considered.     

Fusion near the Coulomb barrier for the synthesis of heavy and superheavy elements: A theoretical approach

The compound nucleus formation is considered as a two-step process of touching and subsequent tunneling of the projectile into the target. The deep minima in the potential energy curve are due to shell effects in the experimental binding energies and give possible target-projectile combinations for the synthesis of heavy and superheavy elements. The asymmetric channels thus obtained are in remarkable agreement with the known experimental channels. In our model, the colliding partners are first shown to be captured in the pocket behind the outer (touching) barrier and the composite system so formed finally tunnels through the inner (fusion) barrier to form the resulting compound nucleus. These calculations reveal the importance of the fusion barrier, which occur only for the asymmetric target-projectile combinations. The calculated fusion cross-sections show a reasonable comparison with the observed one-neutron evaporation residue cross-sections. An estimate of the excitation energy carried by the compound nucleus is also obtained from our model calculations.     

Effect of the entrance channel on the synthesis of superheavy elements

Cross-sections for the synthesis of superheavy elements were analyzed using the concept of a dinuclear system. Experimental values for the production of elements Z = 104, 108, 110, 111 and 112 by cold fusion reactions with targets of ²⁰⁸Pb and ²⁰⁹Bi were reproduced. The model reveals the importance of entrance channel dynamics and competition between quasi-fission and complete fusion processes. Energy windows were observed which allow capture of the reacting nuclei and formation of the compound nucleus. The quantities were studied which are significant for the interaction dynamics of massive nuclei in the entrance channel.     

热熔合反应合成超重核产生截面的同位素依赖性

通过在形成超重核的重离子俘获和熔合过程中引入位垒分布函数的方法对双核模型做了进一步发展. 超重核形成过程中的俘获、熔合和蒸发3个阶段分别采用了半经验的耦合道模型、数值求解主方程和统计蒸发模型的方法来描述. 计算了近年来Dubna小组利用热熔合反应⁴⁸Ca(²⁴³Am, 3n—5n)^288—286115和⁴⁸Ca(²⁴⁸Cm, 3n—5n)^293—291116合成超重新核素的蒸发余核激发函数. 系统分析了⁴⁸Ca轰击锕系元素U,Np,Pu,Am,Cm合成超重核Z=112—116产生截面的同位素依赖性. 给出了合成超重新核素最佳的弹靶组合和入射能量, 即有最大的超重核产生截面. 计算说明, 壳修正能和中子分离能是影响超重核生成截面产生同位素依赖性的主要因素.     

基于双核模型对超重元素合成机制的研究

在双核模型基础上，考虑了熔合与准裂变的竞争，通过数值法求解主方程，计算了⁵⁰Ti，⁵⁸Fe+²⁰⁸Pb，²⁰⁹Bi这4个反应系统通过冷熔合反应合成超重元素的激发函数，得到了与实验比较符合的结果.计算了不同入射能量时各角动量分波对熔合概率和超重核存活概率的影响以及对蒸发剩余截面的贡献.这些结果对进一步理解超重核的合成机制有重要意义. 关键词： 超重元素 双核模型 熔合反应 蒸发剩余截面     

Production mechanism of superheavy nuclei in massive fusion reactions

Within the concept of the dinuclear system (DNS), a dynamical model is proposed for describing the formation of superheavy nuclei in complete fusion reactions by incorporating the coupling of the relative motion to the nucleon transfer process. The capture of two heavy colliding nuclei, the formation of the compound nucleus and the de-excitation process are calculated by using an empirical coupled channel model, solving a set of microscopically derived master equations numerically and applying statistical theory, respectively. Fusion-fission reactions and evaporation residue excitation functions of synthesizing superheavy nuclei (SHN) are investigated systematically and compared them with available experimental data. The possible factors that affecting the production cross sections of SHN are discussed in this workshop.     

Competition of fusion and quasifission in reactions leading to production of superheavy elements

The mechanism of fusion hindrance, an effect observed in the reactions of cold, warm, and hot fusion leading to production of superheavy elements, is investigated. A systematics of transfermium production cross sections is used to determine fusion probabilities. The mechanism of fusion hindrance is described as a competition of fusion and quasifission. Available evaporation residue cross sections in the superheavy region are reproduced satisfactorily. Analysis of the measured capture cross sections is performed and a sudden disappearance of the capture cross sections is observed at low fusion probabilities. A dependence of the fusion hindrance on the asymmetry of the projectile-target system is investigated using the available data. The most promising pathways for further experiments are suggested.     

Effect of properties of superheavy nuclei on their production and decay

Properties and stability of superheavy nuclei resulting from hot fusion are discussed. It is shown that the microscopic–macroscopic approach allows obtaining the closed proton shell at Z ≥ 120. Isotopic trends of K-isomeric states in superheavy nuclei are predicted. Evaporation residue cross sections in hot fusion reactions are calculated using the predicted properties of superheavy nuclei. Interruption of α decay chains by spontaneous fission is analyzed. Alpha decay chains through isomeric states are considered. Internal level densities in superheavy nuclei are microscopically calculated.     

On Q Values and Other Energy Parameters for Superheavy Element Synthesis

Q value and optimal exciting energy of hypothetical superheavy nuclei in cold fusion reaction are calculated with relativistic mean field model and semiemperical shell model mass equation (SSME) and the validity of the two models is tested. To give useful references for the experiments in the superheavy nuclei synthesized in cold fusion reactions,the Q value, fusion barrier and optimal exciting energy for the possible target plus projectile combinations suggested by Gupta et al. are calculated and the most possible target plus projectile combinations are pointed out according to our calculations.     

Impact of nuclear structure on production and identification of new superheavy nuclei

Using the microscopic-macroscopic approach based on the modified two-center shell model, the low-lying quasiparticle spectra, ground-state shell corrections, mass excesses and Q _α -values for even Z superheavy nuclei with 108 ≤ Z ≤ 126 are calculated and compared with available experimental data. The predicted properties of superheavy nuclei show that the next doubly magic nucleus beyond ²⁰⁸Pb is at Z ≥ 120. The perspective of using the actinide-based complete fusion reactions for production of nuclei with Z = 120 is studied for supporting future experiments.     

Fusion-fission dynamics in the superheavy nucleus production

The fusion-fission reaction mechanism leading to the massive nucleus formation is studied. We investigate the superheavy nucleus formation in heavy-ion induced reactions by analysing the evaporation residue (ER) production in order to study the fusion dynamics and the decay properties of nuclei close to the stability island at Z=114. We consider the ⁶¹Ni+²⁰⁸Pb, ⁴⁸Ca+²³⁸U and ⁴⁸Ca+²⁴⁴Pu reactions that lead to the Z=110, 112 and 114 superheavy elements respectively. By using the dinuclear system (DNS) concept of the two interacting nuclei we calculate the quasifission-fusion competition in the entrance channel and the fission-evaporation competition along the de-excitation cascade of the compound nucleus. The dynamics of the entrance channel allows us to determine the beam energy window which is favorable to the fusion, while the dynamic evolution of the compound nucleus on the shell correction to the fission barrier and the dissipative effects influence the fission-evaporation competition in order to obtain the residue nuclei from the superheavy nucleus formation. We also calculate the τ _n /τ_tot ratio at each step of the de-excitation cascade of the compound nucleus and we present a systematics of τ _n /τ_tot (at first step of the cascade) for many reactions that lead to nuclei with Z=102–114.     

On Q Values and Other Energy Parameters for Superheavy Element Synthesis

Q value and optimal exciting energy of hypothetical superheavy nuclei in cold fusion reaction are calculated with relativistic mean field model and semiemperical shell model mass equation （SSME） and the validity of the two models is tested. To give useful references for the experiments in the superheavy nuclei synthesized in cold fusion reactions, the Q value, fusion barrier and optimal exciting energy for the possible target plus projectile combinations suggested by Gupta et al. are calculated and the most possible target plus projectile combinations are pointed out according to our calculations.     

基于双核模型对Z = 116~ 121 超重核产生截面的研究(英文)

在双核模型的理论框架下系统研究了超重元素Z = 116 ~121 的蒸发剩余截面,计算过程中核子扩散由主方程描述,同时考虑了全熔合与准裂变的竞争。计算基本再现了利用热熔合反应48Ca+245Cm,48Ca+249Cf 和48Ca+249Bk 产生116~118 号同位素的合成截面。同样,分别以249Bk,249Cf 和243Am 为靶,以48Ca,50Ti 和58Fe 为炮弹,计算了Z = 119~ 121 号同位素的生成截面。结果表明,这些超重核的生成截面随着质子数的增大进一步变小。例如,利用58Fe+243Am 反应合成121 号同位素的最大蒸发剩余截面仅在fb 量级。基于对选择的几个反应系统的系统分析,发现双核系统在熔合蒸发过程中偶Z 奇N 和奇Z 偶N 复合核分别有强的3n 和4n 蒸发道。The production cross sections of superheavy elements with Z = 116~121 have been investigated systematically within the dinuclear system (DNS) concept, where the master equation is solved numerically to obtain the fusion probability. The competition between complete fusion and quasifission, which can strongly affect the cross section of the compound nucleus formation, is taken into account. The evaporation residue cross sections ER calculated for the hot fusion actinide-based reactions (48Ca+245Cm, 48Ca+249Cf and 48Ca+249Bk) are basically in agreement with the known experimental data within one order of magnitude. Similar calculations for the synthesis of superheavy elements up to Z = 121 are performed using the available 249Bk, 249Cf and 243Am as targets and 48Ca, 50Ti and 58Fe as projectiles. Their production cross sections are relatively small,especially for the 58Fe+243Am→301121 reaction. A systematic analysis indicates that the 3n and 4n channelsare respectively the most favorable fusion-evaporation channels in the synthesis of even- and odd-Z superheavy elements.     

Reaction dynamics at the barrier for heavy compound systems

To investigate basic properties of the fusion reaction dynamics for heavy compound systems, the partial wave distribution σ _l extracted from measured γ multiplicities can be employed as an alternative to the classically used fusion/fission excitation functions. A variety of reactions leading to compound nuclei in the Pb region can be used to investigate features like the fusion-fission competition, the role of deformation in the fusion of heavy systems, and a possible effect of the Z=82 shell on the enhancement of evaporation residue production. The measured spin distribution can provide information on the single partial wave cross sections, which is hidden in the integral fusion cross section. Moreover, it can reveal signatures in the high-spin region, which could be an indication of a stabilization due to an increase in the potential hole by shell correction energies E_shell in the vicinity of a closed shell. The systematic investigation and understanding of the fusion-fission reaction dynamics, together with the understanding of the structure of transfermium nuclei, which are stabilized only via shell effects, are essential for a successful program aiming at the synthesis of new elements at GSI, Dubna, or elsewhere. We started a series of experiments to measure those properties for the reactions at the Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro, Italy. In order to extract the compound nucleus spin distribution, γ multiplicities are measured using the γ-detector array GASP and its inner ball in the multiplicity filter mode.     

A Langevin description of the competition between fusion and deep-inelastic collisions close to the barrier

A Langevin Monte Carlo method based on the surface friction model is used to investigate the competition between fusion and deep-inelastic collisions close to the barrier. Data for the⁵⁸Ni+^112,124Sn systems are analyzed. The measured excitation functions for fusion are well reproduced, whereas the calculated deep-inelastic cross sections deviate somewhat from experiment. Predictions for the corresponding spin distributions are made. Contrary to what is usually assumed they are not well separated in 1-space.     

基于相对论平均场理论对超重核冷熔合反应截面的研究

在形变约束的相对论平均场理论框架下计算了合成Z=102—118元素的(可能)冷熔合反应中复合核及蒸发一或两个中子剩余核的位能曲面,得到了复合核和剩余核平衡点和鞍点的性质、静态裂变垒高度和冷熔合反应的最佳入射能;利用壳修正和对修正方法计算了平衡点和鞍点的壳修正能、对修正能和微观能.利用由此得到的壳结构信息,用简单的熔合蒸发唯象模型计算了相应反应的冷熔合截面.结果发现,TM1参数提供的结构性质给出了与实验接近的反应截面.     

基于RMF理论对超重核结构和合成以及滴线外核的研究

总结和回顾了超重核结构和反应研究的历史和现状,利用形变约束的相对论平均场理论系统计算了实验观测到的Z=102—112号元素的能量随形变的变化,得到了这些核素的基态和鞍点性质,利用Strutinsky壳修正方法研究了壳效应对这些核素的影响.利用所得到的结构信息,计算了相应的冷熔合反应的截面,给出了与实验相仿的结果,得到Z=118号元素的合成截面为23pb,比宏观模型的结果小20倍.讨论了相关物理量对反应截面的影响.同时,还给出了相对论连续谱Hartree Bogoliubov(RCHB)理论对滴线外核1800Sn的描述. The studieson structure and reaction for superheavy elements are reviewed. Based on constrained relativistic mean field(CRMF) theory, binding energiesof elements from Z=102 to Z=112, which can be measured experimentally, as a function of deformation arecalculated, and the properties of equilibrium and saddle point of these nuclides are obtained. Using the single particle levels based on CRMF, the shell effects are obtained with Structinsky method. The cross sections of the cold fusion are est...     

Theory of fusion for superheavy elements

A new model is proposed for fusion mechanisms of massive nuclear systems, where so-called fusion hindrance exists. The model describes the whole process in two steps: two-body collision processes in an approaching phase and shape evolutions of an amalgamated system into the compound nucleus formation. It is applied to ⁴⁸Ca-induced reactions and is found to reproduce the experimental fusion cross sections extremely well, without any free parameter. A schematic case is solved in an analytic way, the results of which shed light on fusion mechanisms. Combined with statistical decay theory, residue cross sections for superheavy elements can be readily calculated. Examples are given.     

Single-particle enhancement of heavy-element production

Fusion barriers are calculated in a macroscopic-microscopic model for several cold-fusion heavy-ion reactions leading to heavy and superheavy elements. The results obtained in such a picture are very different from those obtained in a purely macroscopic model. For reactions on ²⁰⁸Pb targets, shell effects in the entrance channel result in fusion-barrier energies at the touching point that are only a few MeV higher than the ground state for compound systems near Z = 110. The entrance-channel fragment-shell effects remain far inside the touching point, almost to configurations only slightly more elongated than the ground-state configuration, where the fusion barrier has risen to about 10 MeV above the ground-state energy. Calculated single-particle level diagrams show that few level crossings occur until the peak in the fusion barrier very close to the ground-state shape is reached, which indicates that dissipation is negligible until very late in the fusion process. Whereas the fission valley in a macroscopic picture is several tens of MeV lower in energy than is the fusion valley, we find in the macroscopic-microscopic picture that the fission valley is only about 5 MeV lower than the fusion valley for cold-fusion reactions leading to compound systems near Z = 110. These results show that no significant “extra-extrapush” energy is needed to bring the system inside the fission saddle point and that the typical reaction energies for maximum cross section in heavy-element synthesis correspond to only a few MeV above the maximum in the fusion barrier.