A recent review by experts in the field, including Professor Christoph Dullmann of the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research in Darmstadt, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, and the Helmholtz Institute Mainz (HIM), presents an updated perspective on the challenges and future directions in the study of superheavy elements. Published in Nature Review Physics, the review explores the theoretical and experimental chemistry and physics of these elements, particularly focusing on their stability and the quest for the periodic table's limit.
The concept of an "island of stability" among superheavy nuclei has been a topic of interest since the last century. Researchers theorized that certain "magic" numbers of protons and neutrons could confer enhanced stability to these nuclei, potentially leading to lifetimes comparable to the Earth's age. This theoretical island, separated from uranium and its neighbors by a sea of instability, represents a region where superheavy nuclei could have significantly longer lifetimes due to strong nuclear binding energies.
To date, elements up to oganesson (element 118) have been synthesized and added to the periodic table, with experiments conducted at facilities worldwide, including GSI in Darmstadt. These elements are highly unstable, with the heaviest disintegrating within seconds. However, their lifetimes are observed to increase as they approach the magic neutron number 184, suggesting a gradual step towards enhanced stability.
The quest for superheavy elements has led to a revision of our understanding of the superheavy landscape. Experimental evidence has begun to confirm the existence of the island of stability, although its exact dimensions and the lifetimes of elements within it remain uncertain. The review in Nature Reviews Physics discusses the synthesis and detection of superheavy nuclei, their nuclear and electronic structures, and their potential stability and location in the periodic table.
The research into superheavy elements at GSI Darmstadt, supported by HIM and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, has yielded significant findings, including the confirmation of element 117 and the discovery of a relatively long-lived isotope of lawrencium (lawrencium-266). Studies on the nuclear structure, atomic shell structure, and chemical properties of these elements have advanced our understanding, with flerovium (element 114) representing the heaviest element for which chemical data exists. Research also extends to the cosmic production of these elements, particularly during neutron star mergers, as observed experimentally in 2017.
Looking ahead, the development of the new linear accelerator HELIAC promises to enhance the efficiency of superheavy element research. The successful assembly and testing of its first module at HIM open the door to discovering even more exotic and potentially longer-lived nuclei.
Research Report:The quest for superheavy elements and the limit of the periodic table
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