9 pages, 1 figure, 1 table; Invited Talk presented at the "Fourth International Conference on Fission and Properties of Neutron-Rich nuclei", held at Sanibel Island, Florida, November 11-17, 2007
Recent microscopic calculation based on the density functional theory predicts long-lived superheavy elements in a variety of shapes, including spherical, axial and triaxial configurations. Only when N=184 is approached one expects superheavy nuclei that are spherical in their ground states. Magic islands of extra-stability have been predicted to be around Z=114, 124 or, 126 with N=184, and Z=120, with N=172. However, the question of whether the fission-survived superheavy nuclei with high Z and N would live long enough for detection or, undergo alpha-decay in a very short time remains open. In this talk I shall present results of our calculations of alpha-decay half lives of heavy and superheavy nuclei. Calculations, carried out in a WKB framework using density-dependent M3Y interaction, have been found to reproduce the experimental data quite well. Fission survived Sg nuclei with Z=106, N=162 is predicted to have the highest alpha-decay half life (~3.2 hrs) in the Z=106-108, N=160-164 region called, small island/peninsula. Neutron-rich (N >170) superheavy nuclei with Z >118 are found to have half-lives of the order of microseconds or, less.
A semiempirical shell model mass equation applicable to superheavy elements up to Z = 126 is presented and shown to have a high predictive power. The equation is applied to the recently discovered superheavy nuclei Z = 118, A = 293 and Z = 114, A = 289 and their decay products.
An extensive theoretical search for the proton magic number in the superheavy valley beyond $Z=$82 and corresponding neutron magic number after $N=$126 is carried out. For this we scanned a wide range of elements $Z=112-130$ and their isotopes. The well established non-relativistic Skryme-Hartree-Fock and Relativistic Mean Field formalisms with various force parameters are used. Based on the calculated systematics of pairing gap, two neutron separation energy and the shell correction energy for these nuclei, we find $Z=$120 as the next proton magic and N=172, 182/184, 208 and 258 the subsequen…
A recently published highly extrapolatable semiempirical shell model mass equation is shown to describe rather well the energies of several seemingly well identified alpha-decay chains with known end product nuclei observed in superheavy elements research. The equation is also applied to the interpretation problem of some recent hot fusion-evaporation experiments with unknown end products and several conceivable reaction channels. Some plausible interpretations are indicated.
We have explored the occurrence of the spherical shell closures for superheavy nuclei in the framework of the relativistic Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (RHFB) theory. Shell effects are characterized in terms of two-nucleon gaps $δ_{2n(p)}$. Although the results depend slightly on the effective Lagrangians used, the general set of magic numbers beyond $^{208}$Pb are predicted to be $Z = 120$, $138$ for protons and $N = 172$, 184, 228 and 258 for neutrons, respectively. Specifically the RHFB calculations favor the nuclide $^{304}$120 as the next spherical doubly magic one beyond $^{208}$Pb. Shell eff…
Three different ways for description of binding energy of superheavy nuclei are discussed. First, one can consider superheavy nuclei as a part of a whole system of nuclei for which a global mass formula is found. Another way is the detailed local description of energy of superheavy nuclei taking into account the effects of shells and subshells. The third way of description, applied for nuclei in the region limited by principal magic numbers, is attached to the beta-stability line.
Systematic alpha-nucleus folding potentials are used to analyze alpha-decay half-lives of superheavy nuclei. Preformation factors of about several per cent are found for all nuclei under study. The systematic behavior of the preformation factors and the volume integrals of the potentials allows to predict alpha-decay energies and half-lives for unknown nuclei. Shell closures can be determined from measured alpha-decay energies using the discontinuity of the volume integral at shell closures. For the first time a double shell closure is predicted for Z_magic = 132, N_magic = 194, and A_magic = …
The connection of synthesis of long-lived superheavy nuclei and existence of the island of stability with the choice of realistic nuclear potential is discussed: the behaviour of the average field of nuclei is an important element of nuclear models. It is also shown that it is just Dubna that possesses the priority both in the recent synthesis of a superheavy nucleus with charge Z=114 and in its theoretical prediction made 35 years ago. Possible sizes of the island of stability of superheavy nuclei are considered.
The magic proton and neutron numbers are searched in the superheavy region with proton number $Z$=100 - 140 and neutron number $N$= ($Z$+30) - (2$Z$+32) by the relativistic continuum Hartree-Bogoliubov (RCHB) theory with interactions NL1, NL3, NLSH, TM1, TW99, DD-ME1, PK1, and PK1R. Based on the two-nucleon separation energies $S_{2p}$ and $S_{2n}$, the two-nucleon gaps $δ_{2p}$ and $δ_{2n}$, the shell correction energies $E_{shell}^{p}$ and $E_{shell}^{n}$, the pairing energies $E_{pair}^{p}$ and $E_{pair}^{n}$, and the pairing gaps $Δ_{p}$ and $Δ_{n}$, $Z$=120, 132, and 138 and $N$=172, 184,…
We have studied properties and shell structure of the superheavy elements from Z=102 to Z=120 within the framework of the RMF theory. The region of study spans nuclides with neutron numbers N=150-190. The Lagrangian model NL-SV1 with the inclusion of the vector self-coupling of the omega-meson has been employed in this work. We have performed RMF + BCS calculations for an axially deformed configuration of nuclei. The ground-state binding energies, single-particle properties and quadrupole deformation of nuclei have been obtained from the mean-field minimizations. Two-neutron separation energie…
We study the effects of higher-order deformations $β_λ$ ($λ=4,6,8,$ and $10$) on the ground state properties of superheavy nuclei (SHN) near the doubly magic deformed nucleus $^{270}$Hs by using the multidimensionally-constrained (MDC) relativistic mean-field (RMF) model with five effective interactions PC-PK1, PK1, NL3$^{*}$, DD-ME2, and PKDD. The doubly magic properties of $^{270}$Hs are featured by the large energy gaps at $N=162$ and $Z=108$ in the single-particle spectra. By investigating the binding energies and single-particle levels of $^{270}$Hs in multidimensional deformation space, …
The stability of excited superheavy nuclei (SHN) with $100 \leq Z \leq 134$ against neutron emission and fission is investigated by using a statistical model. In particular, a systematic study of the survival probability against fission in the 1n-channel of these SHN is made. In present calculations the neutron separation energies and shell correction energies are consistently taken from the calculated results of the finite range droplet model which predicts an island of stability of SHN around Z=115 and N=179. It turns out that this island of stability persists for excited SHN in the sense th…
Isotopic and isotonic chains of superheavy nuclei are analyzed to search for spherical double shell closures beyond Z=82 and N=126 within the new effective field theory model of Furnstahl, Serot, and Tang for the relativistic nuclear many-body problem. We take into account several indicators to identify the occurrence of possible shell closures, such as two-nucleon separation energies, two-nucleon shell gaps, average pairing gaps, and the shell correction energy. The effective Lagrangian model predicts N=172 and Z=120 and N=258 and Z=120 as spherical doubly magic superheavy nuclei, whereas N=1…
The existence of bubble nuclei identified by the central depletion in nucleonic density is studied for the conventional magic N (Z) $=$ 8, 20, 28, 40, 50, 82, 126 isotones (isotopes) and recently speculated magic N $=$ 164, 184, 228 superheavy isotones. Many new bubble nuclei are predicted in all regions. Study of density profiles, form factor, single particle levels and depletion fraction (DF) across the periodic chart reveals that the central depletion is correlated to shell structure and occurs due to unoccupancy in s-orbit (2s, 3s, 4s) and inversion of (2s, 1d) and (3s, 1h) states in nucle…
A detailed understanding of complete fusion cross sections in heavy-ion collisions requires a consideration of the effects of the deformation of the projectile and target. Our aim here is to show that deformation and orientation of the colliding nuclei have a very significant effect on the fusion-barrier height and on the compactness of the touching configuration. To facilitate discussions of fusion configurations of deformed nuclei, we develop a classification scheme and introduce a notation convention for these configurations. We discuss particular deformations and orientations that lead to …
We have investigated most stable superheavy nuclei by studying the decay properties such as alpha decay, cluster decay and spontaneous fission. We have investigated nine stable nuclei in the island of stability which can be detected through fission are 318123(10.5ms), 319123(4.68μs), 317124(1.74x104 y), 318124(2.70x101 y), 319124(2.83x10-2 y), 320124(1.91x10-5 y), 319125(2.46x109 y), 320125(3.81x106 y) and 321125(3.99x103 y). Present work also investigates three stable superheavy nuclei which can be detected through alpha decay which are 318125(1.03x1012 y), 319126(5.77x1011 y) and 320126(3.99…
The ground state bulk properties such as binding energy, root-mean-square radius, pairing energy, nuclear density distributions, and single-particle energies are calculated for the isotopic chain of Ca, Sn, Pb, and Z = 120 nuclei. The relativistic mean-field with recently developed G3, IOPB-1, and Relativistic-Hartree-Bogoliubov with density-dependent DD-ME1 and DD-ME2 parameter sets are used in the present analysis. The respective shifts over the isotopic chain for the structural observables and surface property like symmetry energy are also estimated using a three-point method, which is cruc…
The systematics of the local energies and the two-neutron separation energies obtained in the mass predictions of infinite nuclear matter model of atomic nuclei show strong evidence of new neutron magic numbers 100,152,164, new proton magic number 78 and new islands of stability around N=100, Z $\simeq$ 62; N=152,Z=78; and N=164,Z$\simeq$90 in the drip line regions of nuclear chart,where the usual magic numbers are found to be no more valid.
Superheavy nuclei are investigated in a nonlinear chiral SU(3)-model. The proton number Z=120 and neutron numbers of N=172, 184 and 198 are predicted to be magic. The charge distributions and alpha-decay chains hint towards a hollow structure.
The $α$-decay half-lives of 204 superheavy nuclei covering the range $114 \leq Z \leq 126$ have been investigated using the relativistic mean-field model (RMF) for NL3$^*$ parameter set. The ground state bulk properties such as binding energy, quadrupole deformation parameter ($β_2$ ), and root-mean-square charge radii for these nuclei are analyzed. Four different semi-empirical formulae, namely, the universal decay law (UDL), the Viola-Seaborg (VSS) formula, the modified universal decay law (MUDL), and the modified Brown formula (MBrown), are used to obtain the $α$-decay half-lives for the co…
In this paper, we have calculated the $α$-decay half-lives of superheavy nuclei with $106 \leq Z \leq 126$ and a neutron number of $150 \leq N \leq 200$ within proximity potentials and deformed-spherical Coulomb potentials by using $WS4$ $α$-decay energy and the semi-classical Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin approximation for penetration probability. Besides, we have included the preformation factor within the cluster-formation model. We have investigated magic numbers and submagic numbers in the mentioned region; with high probability 162, 178, and 184 are predicted as neutron magic numbers. We als…
The $α$-decay chain of $^{293}$118, first proposed in the Berkeley cold fusion experiment $^{208}$Pb($^{86}$Kr,1n) and now retracted, is calculated by using the preformed cluster model (PCM) of one of us (RKG). Also, the possible branchings of $α$-particles to heavier cluster decays of all the parents in this chain are calculated for the first time. The calculated Q-values, penetrabilities and preformation factors for $α$-decays suggest that the $^{285}$114 nucleus with Z=114, N=171 is a magic nucleus, either due to the magicity of Z=114, or of N=172 or of both. The N=172 is proposed to be a m…
This paper refers to an another attempt to search for spherical double shell closure nu- clei beyond Z=82, N=126. All calculations and results are based on a newly developed approach entitled as simple effective interaction. Our results predict the combination of magic nucleus occurs at N=182 (Z=114,120,126). All possible evidences for the oc- currence of magic nuclei are discussed systematically. And, the obtained results for all observables compared with the relativistic mean field theory for NL3 parameter.
Properties of transactinide nuclei needed for the interpretation of spectroscopic data and for the extrapolation to the expected "island of stability" of superheavy nuclei are reviewed from a theorist's point of view in the framework of self-consistent mean-field models.
The extrapolation of self-consistent nuclear mean-field models to the region of superheavy elements is discussed with emphasis on the extrapolating power of the models. The predictions of modern mean-field models are confronted with recent experimental data. It is shown that a final conclusion about the location of the expected island of spherical doubly-magic superheavy nuclei cannot be drawn on the basis of the available data.
Beyond uranium heavy elements rapidly become increasingly unstable with respect to spontaneous fission as the proton number Z increases, because of the disruptive effect of the long-range Coulomb force. However, in the region just beyond Z = 100 magic proton and neutron numbers and the associated shell structure enhances nuclear stability sufficiently to allow observation of additional nuclei. Some thirty years ago it was speculated that an island of spherical, relatively stable superheavy nuclei would exist near the next doubly magic proton-neutron combination beyond 208:Pb, that is, at proto…
Magic islands for extra-stable nuclei in the midst of the sea of fission-instability were predicted to be around Z=114, 124 or, 126 with N=184, and Z=120, with N=172. Whether these fission-survived superheavy nuclei with high Z and N would live long enough for detection or, undergo alpha-decay in a very short time remains an open question. Alpha-decay half lives of nuclei with 130 < Z < 100 have been calculated in a WKB framework using density-dependent M3Y interaction with Q-values from different mass formulae. The results are in excellent agreement with the experimental data. Fission survive…
Recently, experimental researches on the $α$ decay with long lifetime are one of hot topics in the contemporary nuclear physics [e.g. N. Kinoshita {\sl et al.} (2012) and J. W. Beeman {\sl et al.} (2012) ]. In this study, we have systematically investigated the extremely long-lived $α$-decaying nuclei within a generalized density-dependent cluster model involving the experimental nuclear charge radii. In detail, the important density distribution of daughter nuclei is deduced from the corresponding experimental charge radii, leading to an improved $α$-core potential in the quantum tunneling ca…
Quantum stabilization of superheavy elements is quantified in terms of the shell-correction energy. We compute the shell correction using self-consistent nuclear models: the non-relativistic Skyrme-Hartree-Fock approach and the relativistic mean-field model, for a number of parametrizations. All the forces applied predict a broad valley of shell stabilization around Z=120 and N=172-184. We also predict two broad regions of shell stabilization in hyperheavy elements with N approx 258 and N approx 308. Due to the large single-particle level density, shell corrections in the superheavy elements d…
We employ Relativistic Mean Field (RMF) model with NL3 parametrization to investigate the ground state properties of superheavy nucleus, Z = 124. The nuclei selected (from among complete isotopic series) for detailed investigation show that the nucleon density at the center is very low and therefore, these nuclei can be treated as semi-bubble nuclei. The considerable shell gap appears at neutron numbers N = 172, 184 and 198 showing the magicity corresponding to these numbers. The results are compared with the macro-microscopic Finite Range Droplet Model (FRDM) wherever possible.
The recent discovery of isotopes with Z=110--111 suggests evidence for (1) a monopole--monopole interaction that does not appear explicitly in Nilsson--Strutinsky mass systematics, and (2) a competition between $SU(2)$ and $SU(3)$ dynamical symmetries that has been predicted for this region. Our calculations suggest that these new isotopes are near spherical, and may represent a true island of superheavy nuclei, but shifted downward in neutron number by these new physical effects.
The possibility to produce superheavy elements in the course of low-yield nuclear explosions is analyzed within a simple kinetic model which includes neutron capture, gamma-emission, fission and particle evaporation from excited nuclei. We have calculated average numbers of absorbed neutrons as well as mass distributions of U and Cm nuclei exposed to an impulsive neutron flux, as functions of its duration. It is demonstrated that detectable amounts of heavy nuclei absorbing from 20 to 60 neutrons may be produced in this process. According to an optimistic scenario, after multiple beta-decay su…
The influence of the central depression in the density distribution of spherical superheavy nuclei on the shell structure is studied within the relativistic mean field theory. Large depression leads to the shell gaps at the proton Z=120 and neutron N=172 numbers, while flatter density distribution favors N=184 for neutrons and leads to the appearance of a Z=126 shell gap and to the decrease of the size of the Z=120 shell gap. The correlations between the magic shell gaps and the magnitude of central depression are discussed for relativistic and non-relativistic mean field theories.
A highly extrapolatable semiempirical shell model mass equation applicable to translead elements up to Z=126 is presented. The equation is applied to the recently discovered superheavy nuclei with Z=118 and A=293 and with Z=114 and A=289 and their decay products.
We investigate outer crust compositions for a wide range of magnetic field strengths, up to $B\simeq 4\times10^{18}$ G, employing the latest experimental nuclear masses supplemented with various mass models. The essential effects of the magnetic field are twoholds: 1) Enhancement of electron fraction, which is connected to that of protons via the charge neutrality condition, due to the Landau-Rabi quantization of electron motion perpendicular to the field, namely, neutron-richness is suppressed for a given pressure. As a result, 2) nuclei can exist at higher pressures without dripping out neut…
We study the extrapolation of nuclear shell structure to the region of superheavy nuclei in self-consistent mean-field models -- the Skyrme-Hartree-Fock approach and the relativistic mean-field model -- using a large number of parameterizations. Results obtained with the Folded-Yukawa potential are shown for comparison. We focus on differences in the isospin dependence of the spin-orbit interaction and the effective mass between the models and their influence on single-particle spectra. While all relativistic models give a reasonable description of spin-orbit splittings, all non-relativistic m…
A recent paper [M. Rashdan, Phys. Rev. C 63, 044303 (2001)] introduces the new parameterization NL-RA1 of the relativistic mean-field model which is claimed to give a better description of nuclear properties than earlier ones. Using this model ^{298}114 is predicted to be a doubly-magic nucleus. As will be shown in this comment these findings are to be doubted as they are obtained with an unrealistic parameterization of the pairing interaction and neglecting ground-state deformation.
We found that a true ternary fission with formation of a heavy third fragment (a new type of radioactivity) is quite possible for superheavy nuclei due to the strong shell effects leading to a three-body clusterization with the two doubly magic tin-like cores. The simplest way to discover this phenomenon in the decay of excited superheavy nuclei is a detection of two tin-like clusters with appropriate kinematics in low-energy collisions of medium mass nuclei with actinide targets. The three-body quasi-fission process could be even more pronounced for giant nuclear systems formed in collisions …
The possibility of synthesizing a doubly magic superheavy nucleus, $^{298}114_{184}$, is investigated on the basis of fluctuation-dissipation dynamics. In order to synthesize this nucleus, we must generate more neutron-rich compound nuclei because of the neutron emissions from excited compound nuclei. The compound nucleus $^{304}114$ has two advantages to achieving a high survival probability. First, because of small neutron separation energy and rapid cooling, the shell correction energy recovers quickly. Secondly, owing to neutron emissions, the neutron number of the nucleus approaches that …
Fission-fragment mass and total-kinetic-energy (TKE) distributions following fission of even-even nuclides in the region $74 \leq Z \leq 126$ and $92 \leq N \leq 230$, comprising 896 nuclides have been calculated using the Brownian shape-motion method. The emphasis is the region of superheavy nuclei. To show compatibility with earlier results the calculations are extended to include earlier studied regions. An island of asymmetric fission is obtained in the superheavy region, $106\leq Z\leq114$ and $162\leq N\leq 176$, where the heavy fragment is found to be close to $^{208}$Pb and the light f…
The shell structure of superheavy nuclei is investigated within various parametrizations of relativistic and nonrelativistic nuclear mean field models. The heaviest known even-even nucleus 264Hs is used as a benchmark to estimate the predictive value of the models. From that starting point, doubly magic spherical nuclei are searched in the region Z=110-140 and N=134-298. They are found at (Z=114, N=184), (Z=120, N=172), or at (Z=126, N=184), depending on the parametrization.
The feasibility for the alpha decay and the heavy particle decay from the even-even superheavy (SH) nuclei with Z = 116-124 have been studied within the Coulomb and proximity potential model (CPPM). The Universal formula for cluster decay (UNIV) of Poenaru et al., the Universal Decay Law (UDL) and the Scaling Law of Horoi et al., has also been used for the evaluation of the decay half lives. A comparison of our predicted half lives with the values evaluated using these empirical formulas are in agreement with each other and hence CPPM could be considered as a unified model for alpha and cluste…
A fully systematic study of even and odd isotopes (281 $\leq$ A $\leq$ 380) of Z = 121 superheavy nuclei is presented in theoretical frameworks of Relativistic mean-field plus state dependent BCS approach and Macroscopic-Microscopic approach with triaxially deformed Nilson Strutinsky prescription. The ground state properties namely shell correction, binding energy, two- and one- proton and neutron separation energy, shape, deformation, density profile and the radius are estimated that show strong evidence for magicity in N = 164, 228. Central depletion in the charge density due to large repuls…
The probability of $α$ particle emission for some recently observed superheavy nuclei (SHN) are investigated. The $α$-decay half lives of SHN are calculated in a quantum tunneling model with density dependent M3Y (DDM3Y) effective nuclear interaction using theoretical and measured $Q_α$ values. We determine the density distribution of $α$ and daughter nuclei from the relativistic mean field theory (RMF) using FSUGold force, NL3 and TM1 parameter sets. The double folded nuclear potential is numerically calculated in a more microscopic manner using these density distributions. The estimated valu…
Energies of the giant Gamow-Teller and analog resonances - $E_{\rm G}$ and $E_{\rm A}$, are presented, calculated using the microscopic theory of finite Fermi system. The calculated differences $ΔE_{\rm G-A}=E_{\rm G}-E_{\rm A}$ go to zero in heavier nuclei indicating the restoration of Wigner SU(4)-symmetry. The calculated $ΔE_{\rm G-A}$ values are in good agreement with the experimental data. The average deviation is 0.30 MeV for the 33 considered nuclei for which experimental data is available. The $ΔE_{\rm G-A}$ values were calculated for heavy and superheavy nuclei up to the mass number $…
We present two tables of calculated masses of translead nuclei, for 351 nuclei with N from 94 to 126 and Z from 82 to 100, and for 1969 nuclei with N from 126 to 184 and Z from 82 to 126. The tables are calculated from a semiempirical shell-model mass equation based on Z = 126 as a proton magic number which seems to be highly extrapolatable inside shell regions. Useful separation and decay energies are given as well. Some properties of the calculated masses and applications to superheavy elements are indicated in the introduction.
We review the basic ideas and some theoretical models behind the concept of fullerene-like structures made of $α$-particles. The possibility of such a peculiar nuclear shape developing in a double magic superheavy nucleus with $Z$=120 was mentioned for the first time in the literature by Walter Greiner and then constantly defended by him. We provide estimates of the energy of such metastable states within the liquid-drop model. In the second part of this paper we discuss a simple model rooted in the nontopological soliton model consisting of a complex scalar field describing a finite system of…
We have carried out a study of superheavy nuclei in the framework of the Relativistic Mean-Field theory. Relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov (RHB) calculations have been performed for nuclei with large proton and neutron numbers. A finite-range pairing force of Gogny type has been used in the RHB calculations. The ground-state properties of very heavy nuclei with atomic numbers Z=100-114 and neutron numbers N=154-190 have been obtained. The results show that in addition to N=184 the neutron numbers N=160 and N=166 exhibit an extra stability as compared to their neighbors. For the case of protons t…
The impact of particle-vibration coupling and polarization effects due to deformation and time-odd mean fields on single-particle spectra is studied systematically in doubly magic nuclei from low mass $^{56}$Ni up to superheavy ones. Particle-vibration coupling is treated fully self-consistently within the framework of relativistic particle-vibration coupling model. Polarization effects due to deformation and time-odd mean field induced by odd particle are computed within covariant density functional theory. It has been found that among these contributions the coupling to vibrations makes a ma…
Low values of the fusion cross sections and very short half-lives of nuclei with Z$>$120 put obstacles in synthesis of new elements. Different nuclear reactions (fusion of stable and radioactive nuclei, multi-nucleon transfers and neutron capture), which could be used for the production of new isotopes of superheavy (SH) elements, are discussed in the paper. The gap of unknown SH nuclei, located between the isotopes which were produced earlier in the cold and hot fusion reactions, can be filled in fusion reactions of $^{48}$Ca with available lighter isotopes of Pu, Am, and Cm. Cross sections f…
