Doubly magic Hs

Superheavy elements owe their existence exclusively to nuclear shell effects which stabilize them against spontaneous fission (SF). Theoretical predictions locate the center of stability at the hypothetical doubly-magic spherical nucleus with Z=114 and N=184 [1]. Calculations with the inclusion of higher orders of deformation [2] suggest the ground state shell correction energy of deformed nuclei around Z=108 and N=162 to reach values as large as for 114. The increased stability leads to local minima at the N=162 neutron shell and a large difference in Qα values between Ds and Hs isotones. This is clearly visible in Figure 1, but so far no experimental α decay energies are available for N=162 nuclei.