The experimental present and future of superheavy nuclei synthesis

One of the long-term programs of nuclear physics is to investigate the properties of the heaviest atomic nuclei. The synthesis of nuclei with Z > 100 always belonged to experiments at laboratory detection limits. The last large scale upgrade of experimental technique enabled to synthesize new nuclei with Z = 110, 111, 112. At these experiments no such a significant shell stabilizing or isospin effect was observed, which could eliminate the continuous decrease of cross sections of both 'cold' and 'hot' fusion reactions. For the synthesis of nuclei with Z≥ 113 cross sections below 1 pb are expected. To synthesize new superheavy nuclei with higher nuclear charge, the laboratory technique, to be used at the proposed reactions, should be again considerably upgraded. New target systems are considered, able to accept higher beam intensities. Some of the new superheavy evaporation residues will probably decay by fission. At present no adequate detection methods are used at superheavy element research, enabling an unambiguous identification of single fissionable evaporation residues.Possibilities to develop such detector systems are presented (Authors)