Shell structure and shapes of superheavy nuclei

Shell structure and shapes of superheavy nuclei are discussed. Both deformed and spherical nuclei are considered. Theoretical results obtained for even-even nuclei with the proton numberZ=82–120 and neutron numberN=126–190 are examined.     

On the stability of superheavy nuclei

The European Physical Journal A - The Dynamical Cluster-decay Model (DCM) has been employed to analyze the charge particle emission from $$^{207, 209}$$ Pb $$^*$$ isotopes formed in highly...     

Shell effects in fusion-fission of heavy and superheavy nuclei

The process of fusion-fission of heavy and superheavy nuclei (SHE) with Z=82?122 formed in the reactions with ⁴⁸Ca and ⁵⁸Fe ions at energies near and below the Coulomb barrier has been studied. The experiments were carried out at the U-400 accelerator of the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions (JINR) and at the XTU Tandem accelerator of the National Laboratory of Legnaro (LNL) using the time-of-flight spectrometer of fission fragments CORSET and the neutron multi-detector DEMON. As a result of the experiments, mass and energy distributions (MED) of fission fragments, fission, quasi-fission and evaporation residues cross sections, multiplicities of neutrons and γ quanta and their dependence on the mechanism of formation and decay of compound systems have been studied.     

On the possible existence of superheavy elements in monazite

Proton-induced x-ray studies of monazite grains from different occurrences show no evidence for primordial superheavy elements. It is demonstrated that the recently reported evidence for superheavy elements in monazite inclusions of biotite mica showing giant halo formation is not significant: the observed differences in the x-ray spectra of normal and giant halo inclusions are due to different backgrounds in the respective spectra. Moreover, it is shown that the 27.2 keV line tentatively interpreted as theL _α1x-ray of elementZ=126 can be entirely attributed to the reaction¹⁴⁰Ce(p,n γ)¹⁴⁰Pr.     

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...     

On the stability of superheavy nuclei against fission

We use the methods, which we developed in a previous paper, for the calculation of potential energy surfaces and lifetimes for superheavy nuclei. Two regions of relative stability against spontaneous fission, which are connected with the magic proton numbersZ=114 andZ=164 and which will both become accessible for experiments in the near future, are discussed. Especially the nuclei aroundZ=164 are investigated here at the first time. The lifetimes for α-decay are also estimated and appear to be long enough for experimental work. Furthermore, we have investigated the dependence of the fission barrier on the level-distributions at the fermi-surface. At the end we discuss the difficulties in the usual microscopic calculations for the fission process and show a way to overcome the limitations and inconsistencies of the usually used Strutinsky-type calculations.

     

Shell effect and capture cross sections in the synthesis of superheavy nuclei

The shell effect is included in the improved isospin dependent quantum molecular dynamics model in which the shell correction energy of the system is calculated by using the deformed two-center shell model.A switch function is introduced to connect the shell correction energy of the projectile and the target with that of the compound nucleus during the dynamical fusion process.It is found that the calculated capture cross sections reproduce the experimental data quantitatively at the energy near the Coulomb...     

New outlook on the possible existence of superheavy elements in nature

A consistent interpretation is given to some previously unexplained phenomena seen in nature in terms of the recently discovered long-lived high-spin super-and hyperdeformed isomeric states. The Po halos seen in mica are interpreted as being due to the existence of such isomeric states in corresponding Po or nearby nuclei that eventually decay by γ or β decay to the ground states of ²¹⁰Po, ²¹⁴Po, and ²¹⁸Po nuclei. The low-energy 4.5-MeV α-particle group observed in several minerals is interpreted as being due to a very enhanced α transition from the third minimum of the potential-energy surface in a superheavy nucleus with atomic number Z=108 (Hs) and atomic mass number around 271 to the corresponding minimum in the daughter.     

Nuclear structure investigations in the region of superheavy nuclei

Radioactive decay from the ground state or isomeric states has been investigated for a series of nuclei in the region of Z = 100–106 by means of α–γ—or evaporation residue-(γ, conversion electron)—measurements in prompt and delayed coincidence. Systematic trends in single-particle level energies in N = 145–151 odd-even isotones could be extended up to Z = 104, while an energy systematics of lowlying Nilsson levels in odd-mass einsteinium isotopes was established. Information on nuclear levels at E* > 500 keV was obtained from the decay study of isomeric states in ^251−255No. The text was submitted by the author in English.     

Beta decay rates for nuclei with 115<A<140 for r-process nucleosynthesis

For r-process nucleosynthesis the β-decay rates for a number of neutron-rich intermediate heavy nuclei are calculated. The model for the β-strength function is able to reproduce the observed half-lives quite well.     

Investigation of the stability of superheavy nuclei aroundZ=114 andZ=164

The potential-energy-surface has been calculated using a method developed in a previous paper. Two regions of relative stability against spontaneous fission aroundZ=114 andZ=164 are discussed in greater detail. The stability of the quasistable elements against fission is discussed and the stability against alpha- and beta-decay is estimated by using the mass formula of Myers-Swiatecki. It is found that quasistable elements should exist in the regions aroundZ=114 andZ=164.     

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.     

Simple phenomenological model of neutron-resonance densities in 60<A<250 even-even compound nuclei

A simple relationship between the observed density of s-neutron resonances and the energy of the first 2⁺ excited level of even-even compound nuclei is established. The corresponding phenomenological parameters are determined from an analysis of data on stable initial nuclei and are compared with available experimental data on β-unstable nuclei.     

Microscopic study of higher-order deformation effects on the ground states of superheavy nuclei around 270Hs

We investigate the effects of higher-order deformations \begin{document}$\beta_\lambda$\end{document} (\begin{document}$\lambda=4,6,8,$\end{document} and 10) on the ground state properties of superheavy nuclei (SHN) near the doubly magic deformed nucleus \begin{document}$^{270}{\rm{Hs}}$\end{document} using the multidimensionally-constrained relativistic mean-field (MDC-RMF) model with five effective interactions: PC-PK1, PK1, NL3^*, DD-ME2, and PKDD. The doubly magic properties of \begin{document}$^{270}{\rm{Hs}}$\end{document} include large energy gaps at \begin{document}$N=162$\end{document} and \begin{document}$Z=108$\end{document} in the single-particle spectra. By investigating the binding energies and single-particle levels of \begin{document}$^{270}{\rm{Hs}}$\end{document} in the multidimensional deformation space, we find that, among these higher-order deformations, the deformation \begin{document}$\beta_6$\end{document} has the greatest impact on the binding energy and influences the shell gaps considerably. Similar conclusions hold for other SHN near \begin{document}$^{270}{\rm{Hs}}$\end{document}. Our calculations demonstrate that the deformation \begin{document}$\beta_6$\end{document} must be considered when studying SHN using MDC-RMF.     

Reactions of massive nuclei for the synthesis of heavy and superheavy nuclei

We study the effect of the entrance channel and the shell structure of reacting massive nuclei on the fusion mechanism and the formation of evaporation residues of heavy and superheavy nuclei. In the framework of the combined dinuclear system concept and advanced statistical model, we analyze the reactions ³²S+¹⁸²W, ⁴⁸Ti+¹⁶⁶Er and ⁶⁰Ni+¹⁵⁴Sm leading to ²¹⁴Th^*, and the reactions ⁴⁸Ca+²⁴⁸Cm and the ⁴⁸Ca+²⁴⁹Cf leading to the ²⁹⁶116 and ²⁹⁷118 compound nuclei, respectively.     

New double-magic nucleus <Superscript>96</Superscript>Zr and conditions for existence of new magic nuclei

New information about energies and occupation probabilities of neutron and proton single-particle (hole) subshells in even—even nuclei was obtained in previous studies applying the method of putting into correspondence all available data on one-nucleon pickup and stripping reactions. The most important and interesting resultwas identification of several nuclei as new magic ones. Namely, itwas found that a filling of the neutron 2d _5/2 subshell in ⁹⁶Zr makes this nuclide a magic one. Moreover, changes in proton subshell energies with increasing neutron number N are accompanied by an increasing energy gap between closed 2p _1/2 and empty 1g _9/2 subshells. Thus, the neutron number N = 56 appears to be a magic one if the proton number Z is equal to 40. The proton number Z = 40 manifests properties of the magic number in ⁹⁶Zr. Therefore, ⁹⁶Zr was identified as a new double-magic nucleus. Further investigations revealed that the energy of the first 2⁺ state E(2 ₁ ⁺ ) in ⁹⁶Zr is much higher than that in the neighboring isotopes and isotones, whereas the ratio E(4 ₁ ⁺ )/E(2 ₁ ⁺ ) and the quadrupole deformation parameter β2 are, vice versa, clearly lower. Moreover, the A dependence of the neutron separation energy B(n) in Zr isotopes has an irregularity at N = 56 which is typical of magic nuclei. As a result of these investigations, it was found that, near the Fermi energy, there are two closed subshells with the same (and large) angular momentum j = 5/2 (viz. π1f _5/2 and ν2d _5/2). We call this situation the jj connection. The magic numbers under discussion (Z = 40 and N = 56) are achieved at the points where both subshells are closed, and in addition, the closed subshell with j = 1/2, π2p _1/2, occurs above the proton π1f _5/2 subshell. This looks like a result of some additional attractive proton-neutron interaction. It was found that application of this scheme (jj connection) to other subshells reveals several other new magic nuclei: ⁵⁴Ca (closed π1d _3/2 and ν2p _3/2 together with closed ν2p _1/2), ³⁰S and ³⁰Si (closed π1d _5/2 and ν1d _5/2 together with closed (π/ν)2s _1/2), and ¹⁴O and ¹⁴C (closed π1p _3/2 and ν1p _3/2 together with closed ν2p _1/2). The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Search for superheavy hydrogen isotopes <Superscript>4,5</Superscript>H in reactions of pion absorption by <Superscript>10,11</Superscript>B nuclei

The results of searching for production of superheavy hydrogen isotopes ^4,5H in reactions of absorption of stopped π^? mesons by ^10,11B nuclei are reported. A peak near 3 MeV was observed in the missing mass spectra measured in the reactions ^10,11B(π^?, t⁴He)X, ¹⁰B(π^?, d⁴He)X, and ¹⁰B(π^?, t³He)X. A structure caused by two ⁵H states with the resonance energies E _R = 5.2 and 10.4 MeV was observed in the missing mass spectra measured in the reactions ¹¹B(π^?, d⁴He)X, ¹¹B(π^?, t³He)X, and ¹⁰B(π^?, d³He)X.