Superheavy Nuclei: Decay and Stability

Abstract

Decay properties of superheavy nuclei are required for exploring the nuclei from the upper part of the nuclear map. The stability of nuclei with $Z\le 132$ is studied with respect to $\alpha$-decay, $\beta$-decay and spontaneous fission. Performed calculations allow us to conclude that at existing experimental facilities the synthesis and detection of nuclei with $Z>120$ produced in fusion reactions may be difficult due to their short half-lives (shorter than 1 $\upmu$s). We found for the first time the region of $\beta ^{+}$-decaying superheavy nuclei with $111\le Z\le 115$ located to the “right” (more neutron-rich) to those synthesized recently in Dubna in $\mathrm{^{48}}\mathrm{Ca}$-induced fusion reactions. This fact may significantly complicate their experimental identification. However it gives a chance to synthesize in fusion reactions the most stable superheavy nuclei located at the center of the island of stability. Our calculations yield that the $\beta$-stable isotopes $^{291}$Cn and $^{293}$Cn with a half-life of about 100 years are the longest-living superheavy nuclei located at the island of stability.