Understanding the nuclear structure of heavy elements

The study of heavy and superheavy elements has always been one of the cornerstones of nuclear physics studies. These studies are driven by a desire to create new elements and to determine the limits of nuclear stability. Current experiments to synthesize new elements aim at the fabled 'Island of Stability' which should be found in the region of the next 'magic' numbers for protons and neutrons beyond Z = 82 and N = 126 (208Pb). The island is predicted to be around proton number 114–126 and neutron number 184. In recent years, another approach to understanding heavy nuclear systems has gained momentum, whereby nuclei with a much lower proton number of around 100 are studied in detail. The motivation for and results of such studies will be presented. (paper)