Research on some superheavy nuclei

Studies on some superheavy nuclei are performed. The α decay energies are calculated by an improved local binding energy formula, and the α decay half-lives are calculated by the Viola-Seaborg formula. Good agreements between theoretical and experimental results are reached.     

可能合成的超重核的alpha衰变能和半衰期

本文考察和研究了将来可能在实验上合成的超重新元素和新核素的基态性质。研究的重点主要放在原子核的alpha衰变能和半衰期。详细比较和讨论了不同理论模型计算的alpha衰变能和半衰期。通过这些计算和比较,从理论上提出了将来在实验上比较容易合成的超重新元素和新核素的性质。理论计算结果可为将来的超重核实验提供理论参考。     

Search for decay modes of heavy and superheavy nuclei

Spontaneous fission(SF) with a new formula based on a liquid drop model is proposed and used in the calculation of the SF half-lives of heavy and superheavy nuclei(Z = 90–120). The predicted half-lives are in agreement with the experimental SF half-lives. The half-lives of decay(AD) for the same nuclei are obtained by using the Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin(WKB) method together with Bohr-Sommerfeld(BS) quantization condition considering the isospin-dependent effects for the cosh potential. The decay modes and branching ratios of superheavy nuclei(Z =104-118) with experimental decay modes are obtained, and the modes are compared with the experimental ones and with the predictions found in the literature. Although some nuclei have predicted decay modes that are different from their experimental decay modes, decay modes same as the experimental ones are predicted for many nuclei. The SF and AD half-lives, branching ratios, and decay modes are obtained for superheavy nuclei(Z = 119–120) with unknown decay modes and compared with the predictions obtained in a previous study. The present results provide useful information for future experimental studies performed on both the AD and SF of superheavy nuclei.     

Alpha decay energies and half-lives for possibly synthesized superheavy elements

We investigate the ground state properties of some superheavy nuclei, which may be synthesized in future experiments. Special emphases are placed on the alpha decay energies and half-lives. The alpha decay energies and half-lives from different theoretical models are compared and discussed comprehensively. Through these calculations and comparisons, the optimal superheavy elements to be synthesized in future experiments are proposed theoretically.     

利用有效液滴模型对超重元素α衰变半衰期的研究

利用有效液滴模型计算了偶偶超重核的α衰变半衰期,计算过程中采用了保持碎片体积守恒的不对称形状描述以及有效惯性系数计算Gamow势垒穿透因子.首先在质子数Z为88—98的区域检验了有效液滴模型,发现计算结果与实验符合得比较好.随后将此模型推广到Z≥100的情况,虽然只用了两个模型参数,计算结果与实验数据符合,说明有效液滴模型是计算偶偶超重核素α衰变半衰期的一个成功模型.     

Calculation of decay half-lives for superheavy elements using the double folding model

α decay half-lives of some new synthesized superheavy elements, possibly synthesized superheavy elements and decay products are calculated theoretically within the WKB approximation by using microscopic m-nucleus interaction potentials. These nuclear potentials between the α particle and daughter nuclei are obtained by using the double folding integral of the matter density distribution of the α particle and daughter nuclei with a density-dependent effective nucleon-nucleon interaction, in which the zero-range exchange term is supplemented. The calculated α decay half-lives are compared with those of the different models and experimental data. It is shown that the present calculation successfully provides the half-lives of the observed αdecays for some new superheavy elements and therefore gives reliable predictions for α decay of possibly synthesized superheavy elements in future experiments.     

超重原子核与超重元素

研究超重原子核和超重元素,探索原子核的电荷和质量极限,是重要的科学前沿领域。超重原子核的存在源于量子效应。上个世纪60年代,理论预言存在一个以质子数114和中子数184为中心的超重稳定岛,这极大地促进了重离子加速器及相关探测设备的建造和重离子物理的发展。到目前为止, 实验室合成了118号及之前的超重元素。其中116号、114号和113号以下的新元素已被命名。利用重离子熔合反应合成更重的超重元素还面临着很多挑战,需要理论与实验密切结合,探索超重原子核性质与合成机制,以登上超重稳定岛。文章概要介绍了超重原子核和超重元素的研究背景、实验进展以及面临的挑战,并展望了未来的发展。     

Alpha decay half-lives of heavy nuclei within a generalized liquid drop model

Theoretical α-decay half-lives of the heaviest nuclei are calculated using the experimental Qα value. The barriers in the quasi-molecular shape path is determined within a Generalized Liquid Drop Model (GLDM) and the WKB approximation is used. The results are compared with calculations using the DensityDependent M3Y (DDM3Y) effective interaction and the Viola-Seaborg-Sobiczewski (VSS) formulae. The calculations provide consistent estimates for the half-lives of the α decay chains of these superheavy elements. The experimental data stand between the GLDM calculations and VSS ones in the most time.     

Alpha decay half-lives of heavy nuclei within a generalized liquid drop model

Theoretical α-decay half-lives of the heaviest nuclei are calculated using the experimental Q_α value. The barriers in the quasi-molecular shape path is determined within a Generalized Liquid Drop Model (GLDM) and the WKB approximation is used. The results are compared with calculations using the Density-Dependent M3Y (DDM3Y) effective interaction and the Viola-Seaborg-Sobiczewski (VSS) formulae. The calculations provide consistent estimates for the half-lives of the α decay chains of these superheavy elements. The experimental data stand between the GLDM calculations and VSS ones in the most time.     

Doubly magic properties in superheavy nuclei

A systematic study of global properties of superheavy nuclei in the framework of the Liquid Drop Model and the Strutinsky shell correction method is performed. The evolution equilibrium deformations, TRS graphs and α-decay energies are calculated using the TRS model. The analysis covers a wide range of even-even superheavy nuclei from Z =102 to 122. Magic numbers and their observable influence occurring in this region have been investigated. Shell closures appear at proton number Z =114 and at neutron number N =184.     

Alpha Decay, Shell Structure, and New Elements

We systematically analyze the experimental data of alpha decay in even-even heavy nuclei far from stabilityand find that the Geiger-Nuttall law breaks for an isotopic chain when its neutron number is across a magic numberor there is a deformed subshell. This break can be used to identify new magic numbers of superheavy nuclei. It is alsodiscovered that there is a new linear relation between the logarithm of half-life and the reciprocal of the square root ofdecay energy for N = 126 and N = 152 isotones. It could be a new law of alpha decay for nuclei with magic neutronnumbers but the physics behind it is to be explored. The significance of these researches for the search of new elementsis discussed.     

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     

Calculation of α decay half-lives for superheavy elements using the double folding model＊

α decay half-lives of some new synthesized superheavy elements, possibly synthesized superheavy elements and decay products are calculated theoretically within the WKB approximation by using microscopic α-nucleus interaction potentials. These nuclear potentials between the α particle and daughter nuclei are obtained by using the double folding integral of the matter density distribution of the α particle and daughter nuclei with a density-dependent effective nucleon-nucleon interaction, in which the zero-range exchange term is supplemented. The calculated α decay half-lives are compared with those of the different models and experimental data. It is shown that the present calculation successfully provides the half-lives of the observed decays for some new superheavy elements and therefore gives reliable predictions for α decay of possibly synthesized superheavy elements in future experiments.     

Alpha Decay,Shell Structure,and New Elements

We systematically analyze the experimental data of alpha decay in even-even heavy nuclei far from stability and find that the Geiger-Nuttall law brea~s for an isotopic chain when its neutron number is across a marc number or there is a deformed subshell. This break can be used to identify new magic numbers of superheavy nuclei. It is also discovered that there is a new linear relation between the logarithm of half-life and the reciprocal of the square root of decay energy for N = 126 and N = 152 isotones. It could be a new law of alpha decay for nuclei with magic neutron numbers but the physics behind it is to be explored. The significance of these researches for the search of new elements is discussed.     

Macroscopic-microscopic calculations of ground state properties of superheavy nuclei

We systematically calculate the ground state properties of superheavy even-even nuclei with proton number Z=94–118. The calculations are based on the liquid drop macroscopic model and the microscopic model with the modified single-particle oscillator potential. The calculated binding energies and α-decay energies agree well with the experimental data. The reliability of the macroscopic-microscopic(MM)model for superheavy nuclei is confirmed by the good agreement between calculated results and experimental ones. Detailed comparisons between our calculations and M?ller’s are made. It is found that the calculated results also agree with M?ller’s results and that the MM model is insensitive to the microscopic single-particle potential. Calculated results are also compared with results from relativistic mean-field (RMF) model and from Skyrme-Hatree-Fock(SHF) model. In addition, half-lives, deformations and shape coexistence are also investigated. The properties of some unknown nuclei are predicted and they will be useful for future experimental researches of superheavy nuclei.     

Predictions of decay modes for the superheavy nuclei most suitable for synthesis

The competition between α-decay and spontaneous fission of superheavy nuclei(SHN) is investigated by the generalized liquid drop model(GLDM) and the modified Swiatecki's formula respectively. The theoretical decay modes are in good agreement with the experimental results. Predictions are made for as-yet unobserved superheavy nuclei. The theoretical calculations show that the nuclei~(298)120,~(295)119,~(290)118,~(291)117,~(287)117,~(294)116,~(289)116,~(286)116,~(285)116,~(284)115,~(283)115,~(283)114,~(282)114,~(280)113,~(276)112,~(275)112,~(274)112,~(273)111,~(272)110,~(265)109 may be synthesized experimentally in the near future since they not only have relatively large predicted cross sections but can also be identified via α-decay chains.     

Systematic Study on Alpha Decay Half-Lives of Superheavy Nuclei

The α-decay half-lives of a set of superheavy nuclear isotope chain from Z = 105 to 120 have been analyzed systematically within the WKB method, and some nuclear structure features are found. The decay barriers have been determined in the quasi-molecular shape path within the Generalized Liquid Drop Model （GLDM） including the proximity effects between nucleons in a neck and the mass and charge asymmetry. The results are in reasonable agreement with the published experimental data for the alpha decay half-llves of isotopes of charge 112, 114, and 116, of the element 294118 and of some decay products. A comparison of present calculations with the results by the DDM3Y effective interaction and by the Viola-Seaborg-Sobiczewski （VSS） formulae is also made. The experimental a decay half lives all stand in between the GLDM calculations and VSS formula results. This demonstrates the possibility of these models to provide reasonable estimates for the half-lives of nuclear decays by a emissions for the domain of SHN. The half-lives of these new nuclei are thus well tested from the reasonable consistence of the macroscopic, the microscopic, the empirical formulae and the experimental data. This also shows that the present data of SHN themselves are consistent. It could suggest that the present experimental claims on the existence of new elements Z =110 - 118 are reliable. It is expected that greater deviations of a few SHN between the data and the model may be eliminated by further improvements on the precision of the measurements.     

Systematic Study on Alpha Decay Half-Lives of Superheavy Nuclei

The α-decay half-lives of a set of superheavy nuclear isotope chain from Z = 105 to 120 have been analyzed systematically within the WKB method, and some nuclear structure features are found. The decay barriers have been determined in the quasi-molecular shape path within the Generalized Liquid Drop Model (GLDM) including the proximity effects between nucleons in a neck and the mass and charge asymmetry. The results are in reasonable agreement with the published experimental data for the alpha decay half-lives of isotopes of charge 112, 114, and 116, of the element 294118 and of some decay products. A comparison of present calculations with the results by the DDM3Y effective interaction and by the Viola-Seaborg-Sobiczewski (VSS) formulae is also made. The experimental α decay half lives all stand in between the GLDM calculations and VSS formula results. This demonstrates the possibility of these models to provide reasonable estimates for the half-lives of nuclear decays by α emissions for the domain of SHN. The half-lives of these new nuclei are thus well tested from the reasonable consistence of the macroscopic, the microscopic, the empirical formulae and the experimental data. This also shows that the present data of SHN themselves are consistent.It could suggest that the present experimental claims on the existence of new elements Z = 110 ～ 118 are reliable.It is expected that greater deviations of a few SHN between the data and the model may be eliminated by further improvements on the precision of the measurements.     

A search for superheavy nuclei tracks in extraterrestrial olivine crystals

A study is made for the search of superheavy nuclei in Marjalahti, Eagle Station and in other pallasite olivines. The olivine crystals are calibrated for heavy ion track lengths by using heavy ion beams from cyclotrons. The calibration for ultra heavy ions which are presently not available with sufficient energy to produce volume tracks in olivine crystals, is based on Katz and Kobetich model of track formation. The length spectrum of volume tracks, revealed by puncturing them with focussed Nd-glass laser beam, is measured and the abundances of different nuclei groups are calculated. Partial annealing has been used at 430°C for 32 hr which eliminates the interfering tracks due to nuclei of atomic numberS ≤ 50. During the scanning 4 cm³ olivine crystals, about 360 long tracks of uranium group as well as two very long tracks have been found. If these tracks belong to superheavy nuclei, the relative abundance of super heavies is found to be 6 × 10⁻¹¹ in galactic cosmic rays.