Fusion-fission probabilities, cross sections, and structure notes of superheavy nuclei

¹ National Centre for Nuclear Research, Hoża 69, 00-681 Warsaw, Poland
² Institute of Physics, University of Zielona Góra, Szafrana 4a, 65516 Zielona Góra, Poland
³ Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland

^a e-mail: michal.kowal@ncbj.gov.pl
^b Deceased

Published online: 1 December 2016

Abstract

Fusion – fission probabilities in the synthesis of heaviest elements are discussed in the context of the latest experimental reports. Cross sections for superheavy nuclei are evaluated using the “Fusion by Diffusion” (FBD) model. Predictive power of this approach is shown for experimentally known Lv and Og isotopes and predictions given for Z = 119, 120. Ground state and saddle point properties as masses, shell corrections, pairing energies, and deformations necessary for cross-section estimations are calculated systematically within the multidimensional microscopic-macroscopic method based on the deformed Woods-Saxon single-particle potential. In the frame of the FBD approach predictions for production of elements heavier than Z = 118 are not too optimistic. For this reason, and because of high instability of superheavy nuclei, we comment on some structure effects, connected with the K-isomerism phenomenon which could lead to a significant increase in the stability of these systems.