Dynamical Study on Fusion Barrier in the Synthesis of Superheavy Elements

Based on the improved isospin-dependent quantum molecular dynamics model, the fusion barrier in the synthesis of superheavy elements is studied dynamically. Deformation effect and nucleon transfer in neck region are also investigated systematically, which can lower the dynamical barrier since the neck formation. It is shown that the neck radius is dependent on the incident energy and collision orientation. For the static barrier, the model almost gives the same results with the proximity potential.     

超重原子核与新元素研究

当前,原子核物理研究的一个重要前沿是探索原子核的电荷与质量极限,研究超重原子核与超重元素的性质,以及合成超重原子核。20世纪60年代,基于量子壳效应,理论预言质子数为114、中子数为184的原子核及其相邻核具有较长的寿命,甚至可能是稳定的,形成一个超重稳定岛。这个理论预言促进了重离子加速器及相关探测设备的建造,推动了重离子物理的发展。到目前,已经合成到了118号元素,填满了元素周期表的第7行。然而,合成更重的超重元素或包含更多中子的超重原子核面临着很多挑战,需要理论与实验密切结合,探索超重原子核的性质与合成机制,以登上超重稳定岛。文章概要评述超重原子核与新元素研究。首先介绍超重原子核与超重元素研究的背景及理论预言,包括超重核存在的根源、理论预言的概况等。之后简要给出实验合成超重核取得的主要进展和新元素命名情况。关于合成更重的超重元素面临的挑战,文章将针对利用重离子熔合蒸发反应合成超重核的截面低、所合成的超重核缺中子等情况展开讨论。最后评述近年来超重原子核结构性质、衰变、裂变与合成机制等方面的理论研究进展,包括超重核区的幻数和超重岛的位置,超重核的稳定性,利用重离子熔合蒸发反应合成超重核的三步过程及其复杂性,利用多核子转移合成超重核的探索,等等。The exploration of charge and mass limits of atomic nuclei and the synthesis of long-lived or stable superheavy nuclei (SHN) are at the frontier of modern nuclear physics. In the 1960s, based on the stability originating from quantum shell effects, the possible existence of an island of stability around 298114 was predicted. This prediction advanced the construction of heavy ion accelerators and detectors and the development of heavy ion physics. So far, superheavy elements (SHE) with Z up to 118 have been synthesized via heavy ion fusion reactions in laboratories. Recently the IUPAC/IUPAP Joint Working Party (JWP) concluded that criteria for the discovery of new elements have been met for those with Z=113, 115, 117 and 118. Therefore the seventh period of the periodic table of elements is completed. To synthesize even heavier elements or more neutron-rich SHN by using heavy ion fusion reactions, one confronts many challenges. More efforts should be made to study the properties of SHN both experimentally and theoretically. In this short review on the study on SHN and SHE, we will first introduce the background and theoretical predictions of SHN, including the origin of the possible existence of SHN and the predicted island of stability of SHN, etc. Then we will present progresses made up to now concerning the synthesis of SHN and the naming of the four new elements. As for the challenges nuclear physicists confront in synthesizing even heavier SHEs, we will detail those connected with heavy ion fusion-evaporation reactions, namely, the tiny cross sections to produce SHN and the fact that only neutron-deficient SHNs can be synthesized. Finally we will discuss some theoretical progresses on the study of SHN, including the structure of SHN and proton and neutron magic numbers after 208Pb, the stability and the synthesis mechanism of SHN as well as what we should focus on in the future.     

Formation of Superheavy Elements in Nature

It is shown that superheavy elements may also be formed in the main r process responsible for the formation of the heaviest elements observed in nature. Under conditions of a high neutron density, the nucleosynthesis region lies close to the neutron drip line, so that the r process may circumvent the region where nuclei undergo spontaneous fissions and therefore have short lifetimes. However, a high induced-fission rate, which increases with the charge number, may prevent the nucleosynthesis wave from overcoming the region of isotopes heavier than curium, and the beta-decay chain leading to an increase in the charge number of product elements inevitably results in the spontaneous fission of the majority of product nuclei. Calculations of nucleosynthesis that were performed with available nuclear data within the scenario of a neutron-star merger reveal that only Z < 106 superheavy elements are formed. Their abundance at the end of the r process is commensurate with the abundance of uranium, but their lifetime does not exceed several years, so that they fast undergo decay.     

超重核的生成和衰变

简单介绍了近年来在超重核研究方面所取得的成就和理论方面所面临的挑战.着重介绍推广的液滴模型和准分子形状机制,它们的优点是考虑了精确的核半经、质量和电荷的不对称性、形变、亲和力和温度等.推广的液滴模型和准分子形状机制能很好地描述重核和超重核的裂变、衰变及完全熔合反应.The progress and challenge on studies of superheavy elements both experiments and theories has been briefly introduced. It is emphasis to introduce a generalized liquid drop model, including the proximity effects, the asymmetry, an accurate nuclear radius, and quasi molecular shapes. The α decay half lives of 373 nuclei and superheavy elements have been calculated in the generalized liquid drop model and compared with the available experimental data. The deformed energies have also been obtained ...     

Estimation of Synthesizing New Superheavy Elements Using Dynamical Model

Physics of Atomic Nuclei - For the success the synthesis of superheavy elements $$Z&gt;118$$ , it is indispensable to clarify the fusion–fission mechanism, which includes a role of the...     

α-结团模型对超重核α衰变寿命的研究

用α-结团模型计算新合成超重元素的半衰期,与已知的实验数据进行对比分析,发现理论和实验数据能够很好地符合,验证了α-结团模型对超重核研究的有效性.同时结合标准的形变Hartree-Fock模型核质量表给出半衰期理论计算结果,可供以后在理论或实验上研究超重核参考,在此基础上进一步分析超重核区域的α衰变能、双中子分离能和双质子分离能,并讨论Z=114和N=184处是否存在壳效应.     

超重元素的气相化学研究

对当前国际上超重元素气相化学性质实验研究的现状进行了综述, 简单介绍了用于气相化学研究的超重元素合成方法和超重元素气相化学实验技术的发展历程。 综述了超重元素Rf, Db, Sg, Bh, Hs 和112 号元素的气相化学性质研究的实验进展情况。 最后介绍了我国在超重新核素合成、 超重元素气相化学研究等方面所取得的成果, 并展望了在超重元素气相化学性质研究方面的前景。 The present status of the chemical properties investigation for superheavy elements was described in this paper. The synthesis of superheavy elements and the experimental techniques used in stu dies on the gas phase chemistry of superheavy elements were briefly introduced. The current experimental studies about the gas chromatography of Rf, Db, Sg, Bh, Hs and element 112 were discussed in detail. Finally, the development of synthesis of superheavy elements and the study on gas phase chemical properties of superheavy elements in China were prospected.     

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.     

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.     

Formation of Superheavy Nuclei in Massive Fusion Reactions

We recently performed a series of improvement on evaluation of eigenvalues without complicated iterations.In this work we first discuss evaluation of the lowest eigenvalue for given systems,by which one conveniently obtains the value of the lowest eigenvalue based on the dimension and width of given matrix.We also discuss a strong correlation between eigenvalues and diagonal matrix elements for large matrices,by which one is able to predict eigenvalues approximately without iterations.     

Alpha Decay Half-Lives of New Superheavy Elements through Quasimolecular Shapes

The lifetimes of a decays of the recently produced isotopes of the elements 112, 114, 116 and the element ^294118 and of some decay products have been calculated theoretically within the Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin approximation. The a decay barriers have been determined in the quasimolecular shape path within a generalized liquid drop model including the proximity effects between nuclei in a neck, the mass and charge asymmetry and the precise nuclear radius. These calculations provide reasonable estimates for the observed a decay lifetimes. The calculated results have been compared with the results of the density-dependent M3Y effective interaction and the experimental data. It is indicated that the theoretical foundation of the generalized liquid drop model is as good as that of the microscopic DDM3Y model, at least in the sense of predicting the T1/2 values as long as one uses a correct a decay energy. The half lives of these new nuclei are well tested from the consistence of the macroscopic, the microscopic and the experimental data.     

Isotope Dependence of Superheavy Nucleus Formation Cross Section

The dynamical process in the superheavy nucleus synthesis is studied on the basis of the two-dimensional Smoluchowski equation. Special attention is paid to the isotope dependence of the cross section for the superheavy nucleus formation by means of making a comparison among the reaction systems of ^54Re＋204pb, ^56Re ＋206Pb, and ^58Fe＋^208Pb. It is found by this comparison that the formation cross section is very sensitive to the conditional saddle-point height and the neutron separation energy of the compound nucleus. Reaction systems with lower height of conditional saddle-point and smaller neutron separation energy are more favourable for the synthesis of the superheavy nucleus.     

Formation of Neutron-Enriched Heavy and Superheavy Nuclei in Fusion Reactions

The formation of new isotopes of heavy and superheavy elements in the fusion of neutron-enriched projectiles with actinide targets is discussed. Cross sections for the formation of evaporation residues in fusion reactions is predicted for several combinations of colliding nuclei.     

Phase Vortex: A Dynamical System Approach

In this paper we study the flow lines defined by integral curves of the current field Im ψ* ∇ ψ associated to a complex scalar field ψ near a general phase vortex. This study naturally leads to the center–focus problem. Sufficient conditions for spiral behavior of the flow lines near a vortex in terms of the Lyapunov numbers are given.      

重离子反应中质子与中子转移对超重元素合成的影响

研究了采用类弹碎片质量数为变量的一维(1D)主方程(ME)描述重离子熔合反应时的受限制条件, 建立了以类弹碎片中子和质子数为独立变量的二维(2D) ME, 并采用分步差分格式法数值解(2D) ME得到了熔合几率。 新的方法适用于研究任何弹靶组合系统, 给出了与实验符合更好的结果, 为寻求合成超重核的反应道提供了更为宽阔的选择空间。 同时也研究了弹靶的不同同位旋组合对复合核形成截面的影响。 The limitation of the one dimensional master equation with the mass number of project like fragment as the variable is discussed. A two dimensional master equation with neutron and proton numbers of the project like fragment as variables is set up, and solved numerically by means of a two step difference scheme to obtain fusion probability. The new equation is suitable for studying fusion reactions with any projectile target combination, and can better fit the experimental data, so that it can provide a large probability to choose the reaction system for synthesizing a certain superheavy nucleus. The influence of projectile target combinations with different isospins on the cross sections of compound nuclei is studied.     

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.     

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.     

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.