Colliding heavy nuclei take multiple identities on the path to fusion
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...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43817-8 |
| _version_ | 1797414521947553792 |
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| author | Kaitlin J. Cook Dominic C. Rafferty David J. Hinde Edward C. Simpson Mahananda Dasgupta Lorenzo Corradi Maurits Evers Enrico Fioretto Dongyun Jeung Nikolai Lobanov Duc Huy Luong Tea Mijatović Giovanna Montagnoli Alberto M. Stefanini Suzana Szilner |
| author_facet | Kaitlin J. Cook Dominic C. Rafferty David J. Hinde Edward C. Simpson Mahananda Dasgupta Lorenzo Corradi Maurits Evers Enrico Fioretto Dongyun Jeung Nikolai Lobanov Duc Huy Luong Tea Mijatović Giovanna Montagnoli Alberto M. Stefanini Suzana Szilner |
| author_sort | Kaitlin J. Cook |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:34:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-77dab5a719fa47a18e6bc29ce032ed34 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:34:28Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-77dab5a719fa47a18e6bc29ce032ed342023-12-03T12:30:11ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232023-12-011411710.1038/s41467-023-43817-8Colliding heavy nuclei take multiple identities on the path to fusionKaitlin J. Cook0Dominic C. Rafferty1David J. Hinde2Edward C. Simpson3Mahananda Dasgupta4Lorenzo Corradi5Maurits Evers6Enrico Fioretto7Dongyun Jeung8Nikolai Lobanov9Duc Huy Luong10Tea Mijatović11Giovanna Montagnoli12Alberto M. Stefanini13Suzana Szilner14Department of Nuclear Physics and Accelerator Applications, Research School of Physics, The Australian National UniversityDepartment of Nuclear Physics and Accelerator Applications, Research School of Physics, The Australian National UniversityDepartment of Nuclear Physics and Accelerator Applications, Research School of Physics, The Australian National UniversityDepartment of Nuclear Physics and Accelerator Applications, Research School of Physics, The Australian National UniversityDepartment of Nuclear Physics and Accelerator Applications, Research School of Physics, The Australian National UniversityIstituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali di LegnaroDepartment of Nuclear Physics and Accelerator Applications, Research School of Physics, The Australian National UniversityIstituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali di LegnaroDepartment of Nuclear Physics and Accelerator Applications, Research School of Physics, The Australian National UniversityDepartment of Nuclear Physics and Accelerator Applications, Research School of Physics, The Australian National UniversityDepartment of Nuclear Physics and Accelerator Applications, Research School of Physics, The Australian National UniversityRuđer Bošković InstituteDipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Universita di PadovaIstituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali di LegnaroRuđer Bošković InstituteAbstract 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.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43817-8 |
| spellingShingle | Kaitlin J. Cook Dominic C. Rafferty David J. Hinde Edward C. Simpson Mahananda Dasgupta Lorenzo Corradi Maurits Evers Enrico Fioretto Dongyun Jeung Nikolai Lobanov Duc Huy Luong Tea Mijatović Giovanna Montagnoli Alberto M. Stefanini Suzana Szilner Colliding heavy nuclei take multiple identities on the path to fusion Nature Communications |
| title | Colliding heavy nuclei take multiple identities on the path to fusion |
| title_full | Colliding heavy nuclei take multiple identities on the path to fusion |
| title_fullStr | Colliding heavy nuclei take multiple identities on the path to fusion |
| title_full_unstemmed | Colliding heavy nuclei take multiple identities on the path to fusion |
| title_short | Colliding heavy nuclei take multiple identities on the path to fusion |
| title_sort | colliding heavy nuclei take multiple identities on the path to fusion |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43817-8 |
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