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Cook KJ, Rafferty DC, Hinde DJ, Simpson EC, Dasgupta M, Corradi L, Evers M, Fioretto E, Jeung D, Lobanov N, Luong DH, Mijatović T, Montagnoli G, Stefanini AM, Szilner S. Colliding heavy nuclei take multiple identities on the path to fusion. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7988. [PMID: 38042951 PMCID: PMC10693600 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43817-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The properties of superheavy elements probe extremes of physics and chemistry. They are synthesised at accelerator laboratories using nuclear fusion, where two atomic nuclei collide, stick together (capture), then with low probability evolve to a compact superheavy nucleus. The fundamental microscopic mechanisms controlling fusion are not fully understood, limiting predictive capability. Even capture, considered to be the simplest stage of fusion, is not matched by models. Here we show that collisions of 40Ca with 208Pb, experience an 'explosion' of mass and charge transfers between the nuclei before capture, with unexpectedly high probability and complexity. Ninety different partitions of the protons and neutrons between the projectile-like and target-like nuclei are observed. Since each is expected to have a different probability of fusion, the early stages of collisions may be crucial in superheavy element synthesis. Our interpretation challenges the current view of fusion, explains both the successes and failures of current capture models, and provides a framework for improved models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlin J Cook
- Department of Nuclear Physics and Accelerator Applications, Research School of Physics, The Australian National University, Canberra, 2601, ACT, Australia.
- Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, Michigan State University, East Lansing, 48824, MI, USA.
| | - Dominic C Rafferty
- Department of Nuclear Physics and Accelerator Applications, Research School of Physics, The Australian National University, Canberra, 2601, ACT, Australia
| | - David J Hinde
- Department of Nuclear Physics and Accelerator Applications, Research School of Physics, The Australian National University, Canberra, 2601, ACT, Australia
| | - Edward C Simpson
- Department of Nuclear Physics and Accelerator Applications, Research School of Physics, The Australian National University, Canberra, 2601, ACT, Australia
| | - Mahananda Dasgupta
- Department of Nuclear Physics and Accelerator Applications, Research School of Physics, The Australian National University, Canberra, 2601, ACT, Australia
| | - Lorenzo Corradi
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro, Legnaro, I-35020, Italy
| | - Maurits Evers
- Department of Nuclear Physics and Accelerator Applications, Research School of Physics, The Australian National University, Canberra, 2601, ACT, Australia
| | - Enrico Fioretto
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro, Legnaro, I-35020, Italy
| | - Dongyun Jeung
- Department of Nuclear Physics and Accelerator Applications, Research School of Physics, The Australian National University, Canberra, 2601, ACT, Australia
| | - Nikolai Lobanov
- Department of Nuclear Physics and Accelerator Applications, Research School of Physics, The Australian National University, Canberra, 2601, ACT, Australia
| | - Duc Huy Luong
- Department of Nuclear Physics and Accelerator Applications, Research School of Physics, The Australian National University, Canberra, 2601, ACT, Australia
| | | | - Giovanna Montagnoli
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Universita di Padova, via Marzolo 8, Padova, I-35131, Italy
| | - Alberto M Stefanini
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro, Legnaro, I-35020, Italy
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Jiang CL, Stefanini AM, Esbensen H, Rehm KE, Almaraz-Calderon S, Back BB, Corradi L, Fioretto E, Montagnoli G, Scarlassara F, Montanari D, Courtin S, Bourgin D, Haas F, Goasduff A, Szilner S, Mijatovic T. Fusion hindrance for a positive-q-value system (24)Mg+(30)Si. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2014; 113:022701. [PMID: 25062170 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.113.022701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Measurements of the excitation function for the fusion of (24)Mg+(30)Si (Q=17.89 MeV)have been extended toward lower energies with respect to previous experimental data. The S-factor maximum observed in this large, positive-Q-value system is the most pronounced among such systems studied thus far. The significance and the systematics of an S-factor maximum in systems with positive fusion Q values are discussed. This result would strongly impact the extrapolated cross sections and reaction rates in the carbon and oxygen burnings and, thus, the study of the history of stellar evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- C L Jiang
- Physics Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, USA
| | - A M Stefanini
- INFN, Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro, I-35020 Legnaro (Padova), Italy
| | - H Esbensen
- Physics Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, USA
| | - K E Rehm
- Physics Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, USA
| | - S Almaraz-Calderon
- Physics Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, USA
| | - B B Back
- Physics Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, USA
| | - L Corradi
- INFN, Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro, I-35020 Legnaro (Padova), Italy
| | - E Fioretto
- INFN, Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro, I-35020 Legnaro (Padova), Italy
| | - G Montagnoli
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Universitá di Padova, and INFN, Sezione di Padova, IT-35131 Padova, Italy
| | - F Scarlassara
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Universitá di Padova, and INFN, Sezione di Padova, IT-35131 Padova, Italy
| | - D Montanari
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Universitá di Padova, and INFN, Sezione di Padova, IT-35131 Padova, Italy
| | - S Courtin
- IPHC and University of Strasbourg, CNRS/IN2P3,67037 Strasbourg Cedex2, France
| | - D Bourgin
- IPHC and University of Strasbourg, CNRS/IN2P3,67037 Strasbourg Cedex2, France
| | - F Haas
- IPHC and University of Strasbourg, CNRS/IN2P3,67037 Strasbourg Cedex2, France
| | - A Goasduff
- CSNSM, CNRS/IN2P3 and University Paris-Sud, F-91405 Orsay Campus, France
| | - S Szilner
- Ruder Boskovic Institute, HR-10002 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - T Mijatovic
- Ruder Boskovic Institute, HR-10002 Zagreb, Croatia
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Dasgupta M, Luong D, Hinde D, Evers M. Many-body Quantum Reaction Dynamics near the Fusion Barrier. EPJ WEB OF CONFERENCES 2014. [DOI: 10.1051/epjconf/20146601003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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