Speaker
Description
Over the past 20 years, elements 114–118 have been successfully synthesized using 48Ca beams and actinide targets. However, creating elements beyond Oganesson (Z=118) is increasingly difficult due to the unavailability of suitable targets like Es (Z=99) and Fm (Z=100) in sufficient quantities, necessitating alternative reaction pathways. While theoretical models accurately predict production with 48Ca, they diverge widely for heavier projectiles, with cross section estimates for Z=120 differing by over three orders of magnitude. These uncertainties severely limit experimental feasibility.
At Berkeley Lab, we are tackling these challenges by testing new reactions, such as 50Ti + 244Pu, to evaluate the impact of heavier beams. This talk will highlight key upgrades to our experimental setup—including ion sources, targets, detectors, and electronics—and present results from the 50Ti + 244Pu campaign as part of our efforts to reach beyond element 118.
