L. Stavsetra

Cross-section limits for the Pb-208 (Kr-86, n) 118-293 reaction

Abstract.In April-May, 2001, the previously reported experiment to synthesize element 118 using the 208Pb(86Kr,n)293118 reaction was repeated. No events corresponding to the synthesis of element 118 were observed with a total beam dose of 2.6 x 1018 ions. The simple upper-limit cross-sections (1 event) were 0.9 and 0.6 pb for evaporation residue magnetic rigidities of 2.00 Tm and 2.12 Tm, respectively. A more detailed cross-section calculation, accounting for an assumed narrow excitation function, the energy loss of the beam in traversing the target and the uncertainty in the magnetic rigidity of the Z = 118 recoils is also presented. Re-analysis of the primary data files from the 1999 experiment showed the reported element 118 events are not in the original data. The current results put constraints on the production cross-section for synthesis of very heavy nuclei in cold-fusion reactions.

Development of a SISAK extraction system for chemical studies of element 108, hassium

Abstract A liquid–liquid extraction system suitable for studies of chemical properties of Hs (element 108), in the form of HsO4, was developed using γ-emitting isotopes of its homologue Os. The system is targeted for the fast on-line extraction system SISAK, which operates in a continuous manner and is suitable for liquid-phase studies of transactinide elements. The distribution of OsO4 between various dilute NaOH solutions and toluene was studied. Both batch and SISAK on-line experiments were performed to develop an appropriate system. From analysis of the extraction curves equilibrium constants for the formation of the presumed complexes, Na[OsO4(OH)] and Na2[OsO4(OH)2], were obtained: K1=(1±0.5)×104 and K2=12±8, respectively. The SISAK system includes a liquid-scintillation detection system for α measurements. Due to quenching effects it is not possible to perform direct measurement of the aqueous phase α´s. Therefore, a two-stage extraction method that provides an indirect measurement of the activity in the aqueous phase was developed as part of the proposed system for Hs: Acidification of the raffinate from the first stage result in recovery of OsO4, which is highly extractable into toluene. The yield of extraction in the second step, from 0.01 M NaOH solution after acidification with H2SO4 solution, was (90±3) %.

Measurement of the 240Am production cross section via proton irradiation of 242Pu

Abstract A new nuclear reaction for the production of 240Am was experimentally investigated. Targets of 150 – 500 μg/cm2 242Pu on 2 μm Ti were produced through molecular deposition. Five irradiations, in which 242Pu, natTi, and natNi targets were jointly activated with protons from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 88-Inch Cyclotron produced 240Am, 48V, and 57Ni, respectively. The radioactive decay of these nuclides was monitored using high-purity Ge gamma ray detectors in the weeks following irradiation. A maximum 242Pu(p, 3n)240Am nuclear reaction cross section was measured to be 45 ± 13 mb with 23 MeV protons. While this value is lower than theoretical predictions, it is high enough to be the most viable nuclear reaction for the large-scale production of 240Am.

Excitation Function for the 74Se(18O,p3n) Reaction

Abstract The 74Se( 18O,p3n)88gNb excitation function was measured and a maximum cross section of 495±5 mb was observed at and 18O energy of 74.0 MeV. Experimental cross sections were compared to theoretical calculations using the computer code ALICE-91 and the values were found to be in good agreement. The half-life of 88gNb was determined to be around 14.56±0.11 min.

Extraction of Nb and Ta, homolgues of Db, from sulphuric acid solutions with TOA in toluene using SISAK

Extractions of niobium and tantalum as homologues of dubnium (element 105) into tri-octylamine (TOA) in toluene from H2SO4 and H2SO4/K2SO4 solutions were performed to explore the possibilities of applying the automated on-line liquid–liquid extraction system SISAK to study chemical properties of dubnium in solutions. The results show that the extraction systems TOA/H2SO4 and TOA/H2SO4+K2SO4 are promising with respect to performing a study of Db with the SISAK system. Suggestions for performing a SISAK Db-experiment are presented. In batch experiments, Pa has also been investigated.

Extraction of niobium and tantalum isotopes using organophosphorus compounds - Part I - Extraction of 'carrier-free' metal concentrations from HCl solutions

Abstract The extraction of niobium (Nb) and tantalum (Ta) from hydrochloric acid media by bis(2-ethylhexyl) hydrogen phosphate (HDEHP) and bis(2-ethylhexyl) hydrogen phosphite (BEHP) was studied. The goal of the experiments is to find a system that demonstrates selectivity between the members of group five of the Periodic Table and is also suitable for the study of dubnium (Db, Z=105). Experiments were performed at the trace level (10-16 M Nb or Ta) using hydrochloric acid with concentrations ranging from 1−11 M and short-lived isotopes of Nb and Ta produced in nuclear reactions. When HDEHP was used as the extractant, the Nb extraction yield decreased with increasing acid concentrations above 6 M, while the amount of Ta extracted remained over 75% for all acid concentrations studied. Tantalum was found to be extracted by BEHP at acid concentrations above 6 M, while niobium was not significantly extracted. The data obtained are used as the basis to discuss the speciation of Nb and Ta under the conditions studied and to evaluate possible extraction mechanisms.

Independent Verification of Element 114 Production in the {sup 48}Ca+{sup 242}Pu Reaction

Independent verification of the production of element 114 in the reaction of 244-MeV {sup 48}Ca with {sup 242}Pu is presented. Two chains of time- and position-correlated decays have been assigned to {sup 286}114 and {sup 287}114. The observed decay modes, half-lives, and decay energies agree with published results. The measured cross sections at a center-of-target energy of 244 MeV for the {sup 242}Pu({sup 48}Ca,3-4n){sup 287,286}114 reactions were 1.4{sub -1.2}{sup +3.2} pb each, which are lower than the reported values.

High-K multi-quasiparticle states and rotational bands in {sub 103}{sup 255}Lr

Two isomeric states have been identified in 255 Lr. The decay of the isomers populates rotational structures. Comparison with macroscopic-microscopic calculations suggests that the lowest observed sequence is built upon the [624]9/2+ Nilsson state. However, microscopic cranked relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov (CRHB) calculations do not reproduce the moment of inertia within typical accuracy. This is a clear challenge to theories describing the heaviest elements.

New isotope {sup 263}Hs

A new isotope of Hs was produced in the reaction {sup 208}Pb({sup 56}Fe,n){sup 263}Hs at the 88-Inch Cyclotron of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Six genetically correlated nuclear decay chains have been observed and assigned to the new isotope {sup 263}Hs. The measured cross section was 21{sub -8.4}{sup +13} pb at 276.4 MeV lab frame center-of-target beam energy. {sup 263}Hs decays with a half-life of 0.74{sub -0.21}{sup +0.48} ms by {alpha}-decay and the measured {alpha}-particle energies are 10.57 {+-} 0.06, 10.72 {+-} 0.06, and 10.89 {+-} 0.06 MeV. The experimental cross section is compared to a theoretical prediction based on the Fusion by Diffusion model [W. J. SwiaPtecki et al., Phys. Rev. C 71, 014602 (2005)].

Comparison of reactions for the production of {sup 258,257}Db: {sup 208}Pb({sup 51}V,xn) and {sup 209}Bi({sup 50}Ti,xn)

Excitation functions for the 1n and 2n exit channels of the 208Pb(51V,xn)259-xDb reaction were measured. A maximum cross section of the 1n exit channel of 2070+1100/-760 pb was measured at an excitation energy of 16.0 +- 1.8 MeV. For the 2n exit channel, a maximum cross section of 1660+450/-370 pb was measured at 22.0 +- 1.8 MeV excitation energy. The 1n excitation function for the 209Bi(50Ti,n)258Db reaction was remeasured, resulting in a cross section of 5480+1750/-1370 pb at an excitation energy of 16.0 +- 1.6 MeV, in agreement with previous values [F. P. Hebberger, et al., Eur. Phys. J. A 12, 57 (2001)]. Differences in cross section maxima are discussed in terms of the fusion probability below the barrier.