Production, L x-ray identification, and decay of the nuclide 260105

The nuclide 260105 has been produced in the 249Cf(15N,4n) reaction and its decay properties investigated. The α-decay branch of 1.52 +- 0.13-sec 260105 has been measured to be 90.4 +- 0.6% with spontaneous-fission decay the remainder [(9.6 +- 0.6)] . Measurement α-particle energies and intensities (% per decay) are 9.041 +- 0.014 MeV (48 +- 5), 9.074 +- 0.014 MeV (25 +- 3), and 9.120 +- 0.017 MeV (17 +- 3). Characteristic L-series x rays of element 103 were observed in coincidence with these α-particle groups, thus providing elemental identification. The 256Lr α-decay daughter was observed in a direct time-correlated genetic linkage, thus providing the mass number assignment. The absence of characteristic L- or K-series x rays of element 104 in time coincidence with, but preceding, spontaneous-fission-decay events, has allowed an upper limit of 2.5% to be placed on the electron-capture decay branch of 260105 to the elusive nuclide 0.1-sec 260104. If 260104 is a spontaneous-fission emitter with a half-life < or = 100 μsec, as some predictions would indicate, then the electron-capture decay branch of 260105 is < or =0.2%