A. I. Svirikhin

Chemical characterization of element 112

The heaviest elements to have been chemically characterized are seaborgium (element 106), bohrium (element 107) and hassium (element 108). All three behave according to their respective positions in groups 6, 7 and 8 of the periodic table, which arranges elements according to their outermost electrons and hence their chemical properties. However, the chemical characterization results are not trivial: relativistic effects on the electronic structure of the heaviest elements can strongly influence chemical properties. The next heavy element targeted for chemical characterization is element 112; its closed-shell electronic structure with a filled outer s orbital suggests that it may be particularly susceptible to strong deviations from the chemical property trends expected within group 12. Indeed, first experiments concluded that element 112 does not behave like its lighter homologue mercury. However, the production and identification methods used cast doubt on the validity of this result. Here we report a more reliable chemical characterization of element 112, involving the production of two atoms of 283112 through the alpha decay of the short-lived 287114 (which itself forms in the nuclear fusion reaction of 48Ca with 242Pu) and the adsorption of the two atoms on a gold surface. By directly comparing the adsorption characteristics of 283112 to that of mercury and the noble gas radon, we find that element 112 is very volatile and, unlike radon, reveals a metallic interaction with the gold surface. These adsorption characteristics establish element 112 as a typical element of group 12, and its successful production unambiguously establishes the approach to the island of stability of superheavy elements through 48Ca-induced nuclear fusion reactions with actinides.

Indication for a volatile element 114

Abstract Recently, the chemical investigation of element 112 revealed a highly volatile, noble metallic behaviour, as expected for the last group 12 member of the periodic table. The observed volatility and chemical inertness were ascribed to the growing influence of relativistic effects on the chemical properties of the heaviest elements with increasing nuclear charge. Here, we report for the first time on gas phase chemical experiments aiming at a determination of element 114 properties. This element was investigated using its isotopes 287114 and 288114 produced in the nuclear fusion reactions of 48Ca with 242Pu and 244Pu, respectively. Identification of three atoms of element 114 in thermochromatography experiments and their deposition pattern on a gold surface indicates that this element is at least as volatile as simultaneously investigated elements Hg, At, and element 112. This behaviour is rather unexpected for a typical metal of group 14.

GABRIELA: A new detector array for γ-ray and conversion electron spectroscopy of transfermium elements

With the aid of the Geant4 Monte Carlo simulation package a new detection system has been designed for the focal plane of the recoil separator VASSILISSA situated at the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions, JINR, Dubna. GABRIELA (Gamma Alpha Beta Recoil Investigations with the ELectromagnetic Analyser VASSILISSA) has been optimised to detect the arrival of reaction products and their subsequent radioactive decays involving the emission of α- and β-particles, fission fragments, γ- and X-rays and conversion electrons. The new detector system is described and the results of the first commissioning experiments are presented.

In-beam separation and mass determination of superheavy nuclei. Part I

Within the past 15 years, the recoil separator VASSILISSA has been used for the investigations of evaporation residues produced in complete fusion reactions induced by heavy ions. The study of decay properties and formation of cross-sections of the isotopes of elements 110, 112 and 114 was performed using high-intensity Ca beams and Th; U; Pu targets. For further experiments aimed at the synthesis of the superheavy element isotopes ðZX110Þ with the use of intense Ca extracted beams, improvements in the ion optical system of the separator and the focal plane detector system have been made. The results from the test reactions and new results for the isotope 112 are presented. r 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. PACS: 23.60.+e; 25.85.Ca; 29.30.Cm; 29.40.Pe

The upgrade of the kinematic separator VASSILISSA - Experimental results and plans

Within the past twelve years, the recoil separator VASSILISSA has been used for the investigations of evaporation residues produced in heavy-ion-induced complete fusion reactions. In the course of the experimental work, fourteen new isotopes have been identified by the parent-daughter correlations in the region of elements with 92≤Z≤94. The study of the decay properties and formation cross sections of the isotopes of elements 110, 112, and 114 was performed using high-intensity 48Ca beams and 232Th, 238U, and 242Pu targets. At the beam energies corresponding to the calculated cross-section maxima of the 3n evaporation channels, the isotopes 277110, 283112, and 287114 were produced and identified. For further experiments aimed at the synthesis of the superheavy element isotopes (Z≥110) with the use of intensive 48Ca extracted beams, improvements in the ion optical system of the separator and the focal plane detector system have been made.

Experimental Tests of the Modernized VASSILISSA Separator (SHELS) with the Use of Accelerated 50 Ti Ions

A high intensity ion beam of 50Ti ions was obtained using the ECR ion source on the U400 cyclotron. The experimental tests using accelerated 50Ti ions were performed with a modernized VASSILISSA separator (SHELS). Data has been obtained on the transmission coefficients of recoil nuclei synthesized in complete fusion reactions. Estimates from ion optical calculations performed in the design phase of the project of modernizing the separator are completely confirmed.

First Experimental Tests of the Modernized VASSILISSA Separator

The results of the first experimental tests of the modernized VASSILISSA separator with the use of accelerated 22Ne ions are presented. Data has been obtained on the transmission coefficients of recoil nuclei synthesized in asymmetric combinations of the incident ion and target nuclei. Estimates from ion optical calculations performed in the design phase of the project of modernizing the separator are completely confirmed.

Gabriela setup for nuclear spectroscopy of the transfermium element isotopes at the VASSILISSA separator

The JINR (Dubna)-IN2P3 (France) Collaboration project aimed at the α, β γ, spectroscopy of the transfermium element isotopes using heavy-ion beams of the U-400 cyclotron and the modernized recoil separator VASSILISSA was launched at Dubna. During the first full-scale experiment in September–October 2004, nobelium and lawrencium isotopes produced in the 48Ca + 207,208Pb → 255,256No* and 48Ca + 209Bi → 257Lr* reactions were studied.

A detector for studying the characteristics of spontaneous fission of short-lived heavy nuclei

The detector system of the VASSILISSA separator has been complemented with an array of 54 3He neutron counters to study the multiplicity of prompt spontaneous-fission neutrons. The detection efficiency of the new neutron detector is 39%. The description of the detector system and the characteristics of 252No spontaneous fission, obtained in the test experiment in July of 2010, are presented.

Neutrons from spontaneous fission of long‐lived super‐ heavy nuclei

The investigations of spontaneous fission of 268Db (Z = 105) have been performed. 268Db is the heaviest nuclide for which the average number of neutrons per spontaneous fission ν = 4.2±1.0 was measured. The search for long‐lived isotopes of super‐heavy elements in nature is reconsidered. Presently the experiment SHIN in the underground low radioactivity laboratory in Modane (LSM) is going with high efficiency neutron detector to detect rare spontaneous fission events.