Origin of Unexpected Isotopic Trends in Synthesis of Superheavy Nuclei

We investigate the dependence of the yield of superheavy nuclei with Z = 110, 112, 114 on the neutron excess of the projectile nucleus with a two-parameter Smoluchowski equation. It is confirmed that in some cases, the cold fusion reactions with less neutron excess are more favourable than those with more neutron excess. In order to probe the origin of these unexpected isotopic trends, we also investigate the probabilities of capture, fusion and survival in the cold fusion reactions in detail It is found that the maximal ER cross sections of the superheavy nuclei exponentially increase as a function of Bf - Sn with Bf being the fission barrier and Sn being the neutron separation energy. Although the probabilities of capture and fusion have some influences, the unexpected isotopic trends mainly due to the dependence of the ER cross sections on the Bf - Sn value. Therefore, the reactions with larger Bf - Sn values should be more favourable for synthesis of superheavy nuclei.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

超重核熔合中的靶核形变效应

利用额外推力模型研究了⁴⁸Ca+²³⁸U俘获和熔合过程中的靶核形变效应.计算表明,在近垒和垒下能区,靶核形变使俘获截面和熔合截面增强,形成的复合核自旋分布展宽.     

Production cross sections of the superheavy nucleus 117 based on the dinuclear system model

Within the framework of the dinuclear system model,the capture of two colliding nuclei,and the formation and de-excitation process of a compound nucleus are described by using an empirical coupled channel model,solving the master equation numerically and the statistical evaporation model,respectively.In the process of heavy-ion capture and fusion to synthesize superheavy nuclei,the barrier distribution func-tion is introduced and averaging collision orientations are considered.Based on this model,the production cross sections of the cold fusion system 76-82Se+209Bi and the hot fusion systems 55Mn+238U,51V-+244Pu,59 Co+232 Th,48 Ca+247-249 Bk and 45 Sc+246-248 Cm are calculated.The isotopic dependence of the largest production cross sections is analyzed briefly,and the optimal projectile-target combination and excitation energy of the ln-4n evaporation channels are proposed.It is shown that the hot fusion systems 48Ca+247 249Bk in the3n evaporation channels and 45Sc+248Cm in the 2n-4n channels are optimal for synthesizing the superheavy element 117.     

Synthesis of superheavy nuclei with <Superscript>238</Superscript>U target

The production of superheavy nuclei with Z=108-116 via hot fusion reactions of the neutron-rich projectiles with 238U target is systematically studied.The results show that the production cross sections of superheavy nuclei do not decrease monotonously as the atomic number Z increasing.The cross sections of the superheavy nuclei at Z = 112 and 115 are enhanced as compared with the whole Z-trend in synthesis of the superheavy nuclei,which clearly illustrates that the reactions with large negative Q-value and...     

Description of quasifission reactions in the dinuclear system model

The formation and evolution of dinuclear systems in quasifission reactions are investigated. The process of formation of reaction products is analyzed based on the concept of a dinuclear system. Isotopic trends of cross sections of production of superheavy nuclei in quasifission reactions are discussed. The yields of new neutron-rich isotopes of nuclei with Z = 64–80 in quasifission reactions are predicted. The mechanism of production of complex fragments in complete fusion and quasifission reactions is analyzed.     

Fusion cross sections for superheavy nuclei in the dinuclear system concept

Using the dinuclear system concept we present calculations of production cross sections for the heaviest nuclei. The obtained results are in a good agreement with the experimental data. The experimentally observed rapid fall-off of the cross sections of the cold fusion with increasing charge number Z of the compound nucleus is explained. Optimal reactions for the synthesis of the superheavy nuclei are suggested.     

Fusion hindrance and synthesis of superheavy elements

A mechanism for fusion hindrance is clarified, based on the observation that the sticking configuration of projectile and target is located outside of the conditional saddle point. Accordingly, the fusion process is described by two sequential steps of passing over the Coulomb barrier and shape evolution toward the spherical compound nucleus. The latter one is indispensable in massive systems. With the use of a two-step model, excitation functions of fusion reaction are calculated for various combinations of projectiles and targets which lead to superheavy elements. The hindered fusion excitation measured is reproduced precisely without any adjustable parameter. Combined with survival probabilities calculated by the statistical theory of decay, excitation functions for residues of superheavy elements are calculated to compare with the systematic data measured for the cold fusion path. The peak positions and the widths are correctly reproduced, though it is necessary to reduce the shell correction energies of the compound nuclei predicted by the structure calculations in order to reproduce their absolute values. Predictions are made for a few unknown heavier elements. Furthermore, a preliminary attempt toward the shell closure N = 184 is also presented using a neutron-rich secondary beam. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

超重元素合成反应机制研究

回顾了超重元素研究的现状和超重元素合成反应机制研究的发展,指出目前超重元素合成研究中存在的困难和对超重余核鉴别的一些设想.对近对称反应系统的熔合反应机制进行了较深入的讨论,建议对这类反应生成复合核的截面进行理论和实验上的研究.The status and development of the studies on reaction mechanism for synthesis of superheavy elements has been reviewed. In this paper it is pointed out the difficulties existing in the studies and synthesis of superheavy elements and some conceives for measurement and identification of very heavy residues. The fusion of near symmetric reaction systems is discussed and proposed to do more investigations on the fusion cross sections of these reactions on both theory and experiment.     

超重核合成理论模型简介

介绍并讨论了研究超重核合成的主要理论模型以及近年来在研究重核熔合机制和超重核合成理论模型方面的进展。 The theoretical models for investigating the fusion mechanism of heavy nucleus collisions and calculating the formation cross sections of superheavy nuclei have been introduced. The recent development and the present status for understanding the fusion mechanism of heavy nucleus collisions have been discussed.     

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.     

超重核合成的同位素依赖探讨

利用二参量Smoluchowski方程计算了54Fe+204Pb,56Fe+206Pb,58Fe+208Pb冷熔合和32,34,36S+238U热熔合的复合核形成截面和蒸发残余截面, 结果清楚地显示出超重核合成截面随同位素的变化。 由于较低的入射道库仑位垒、 较低的不对称裂变谷中的条件鞍点和较小的中子分离能, 一般地说, 丰中子同位素的超重核形成截面明显增强。 The cross sections of the compound nucleus formation and e vaporation residue for the 54Fe+204Pb, 56Fe+206Pb, 58Fe+208Pb cold fusion and 32,34, 36S+238U hot fusion have been calculated by using a two parameter Smoluchowski equation. Our results clearly show the isotope dependence of superheavy nucleus production. The formation cross sections of the neutron rich isotope are, generally speaking, obviously enhanced due to the lower Coloumb barrier , lower height of the conditional saddle point, and smaller neutron separation energy.     

Dinuclear systems in complete fusion reactions

Formation and evolution of dinuclear systems in reactions of complete fusion are considered. Based on the dinuclear system concept, the process of compound nucleus formation is studied. Arguments confirming the validity of this concept are given. The main problems of describing the complete fusion in adiabatic approximation are listed. Calculations of evaporation residue cross sections in complete fusion reactions leading to formation of superheavy nuclei are shown. Isotopic trends of the cross sections of heavy nuclei formation in complete fusion reactions are considered.     

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.     

Predictions of synthesizing element 119 and 120

The evaporation residue cross sections of synthesizing superheavy nuclei Z=119, 120 are calculated by different sets of master equations with different dynamical variables. Two methods basically predicted similar results that the Ca induced hot fusion can 48 produce element 119 easier than produce 120, and the evaporation residue cross sections for 119 are detectable by current advanced techniques, while the evaporation residue cross sections are below 0.1 pb for producing element 120.