Searches for superheavy elements in nature: Cosmic-ray nuclei; spontaneous fission

• Published in: Nuclear physics. A 2015-12, Vol.944, p.177-189
• Main Authors: Ter-Akopian, G.M., Dmitriev, S.N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cosmic rays; Nucleosynthesis; Spontaneous fission; Superheavy nuclei
• ISSN: 0375-9474
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nuclphysa.2015.09.004

There is little chance that superheavy nuclei with lifetimes of no less than 100 million years are present on the stability island discovered at present. Also, pessimistic are the results of estimates made about their nucleosynthesis in r-process. Nevertheless, the search for these nuclei in nature is justified in view of the fundamental importance of this topic. The first statistically significant data set was obtained by the LDEF Ultra-Heavy Cosmic-Ray Experiment, consisting of 35 tracks of actinide nuclei in galactic cosmic rays. Because of their exceptionally long exposure time in Galaxy, olivine crystals extracted from meteorites generate interest as detectors providing unique data regarding the nuclear composition of ancient cosmic rays. The contemporary searches for superheavy elements in the earth matter rely on knowledge obtained from chemical studies of artificially synthesized superheavy nuclei. New results finding out the chemical behavior of superheavy elements should be employed to obtain samples enriched in their homologues. The detection of rare spontaneous fission events and the technique of accelerator mass spectrometry are employed in these experiments.