Synthesis of Superheavy Nuclei in the 48Ca + 244Pu Reaction
Abstract
In bombardment of 244Pu with 48Ca, we observed a decay sequence consisting of an implanted heavy atom, three subsequent α decays, and a spontaneous fission (SF), all correlated in time and position. The measured α energies and corresponding time intervals were Eα = 9.71 MeV ( Δt = 30.4 s), 8.67 MeV ( Δt = 15.4 min), and 8.83 MeV ( Δt = 1.6 min); for the SF ( Δt = 16.5 min), the total deposited energy was approximately 190 MeV. The α-particle energies together with the decay times and SF terminating the chain offer evidence of the decay of nuclei with high atomic numbers. This decay chain is a good candidate for originating from the α decay of the parent nucleus 289114, produced with a cross section of about 1 pb.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review Letters
- Pub Date:
- October 1999
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.83.3154
- Bibcode:
- 1999PhRvL..83.3154O