Influence of proton shell closure on production and identification of new superheavy nuclei

The shell structure of heavy nuclei with Z>104, which can be produced in the actinide-based complete fusion reactions, is studied with a modified two-center shell model. Using the microscopic-macroscopic approach, the mass excesses and Q_α-values are calculated and compared with available experimental data. The predicted properties of superheavy nuclei show that the next doubly magic nucleus beyond ²⁰⁸Pb is at Z≥120. It is shown that the production cross sections of new superheavy nuclei decisively depend on the position of proton shell closure.