Spectroscopy of superheavy atomic nuclei

What are the heaviest elements that can exist or be created in Nature? Does an ‘Island of Stability’ exist beyond uranium?

In the wake of the discovery of superheavy elements, nuclear spectroscopy experiments aim at providing benchmarks for nuclear theory at the uppermost end of the nuclear chart. In its own right, the aim is to define the next proton magic number beyond Z=82.

In turn, such knowledge impacts predictivity of, for example, (super)heavy endpoints of astrophysical r-process scenarios.Building upon a high-impact study from 2013 and the follow-up highlight in 2021, decay chains of element Z=114 will be targeted. The proposed PhD project refers to the implementation, commissioning, and use of the LUNDIUM decay station.

Financed by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg foundation, LUNDIUM exploits a novel concept and new types of detectors leading to highest efficieny for high-resolution, multi-coincidence decay spectroscopy of γ rays, X rays, electrons, α particles, and fission fragments.

This comprehensive scheme is pivotal to extract the most out of the precious and extremely rare decay events – at best 1 or 2 per day upon ~4x1017 attempts! Self-consistency checks with Geant4-based virtual experiments ensure that reliable results are handed over to theory. Within the NUSTAR-SHE collaboration, our efforts are embedded in the FAIR Phase-0 program.

LUNDIUM will become relevant for decay studies at a number of ’isotope separators’ across the FAIR-NUSTAR facility.