On the possibility of detecting superheavy quasimolecules

The formation of superheavy electronic quasimolecules leads to measurable deviations from the Rutherford cross section in heavy ion collisions. For the system ²³⁸₉₂U-²³⁵₉₂U with E_c.m. = 800 MeV we find an average correction of 1.5% for the scattering cross section in forward directions. Additional background contributions like electronic shielding of the nucleus, vacuum polarization, nuclear Coulomb excitation and static deformations of the nuclei are taken into account.