The extrapolation of self–consistent nuclear mean-field models to the region of superheavy elements is discussed with emphasis on the extrapolating power of the models. The predictions of modern mean-field models are confronted with recent experimental data. It is shown that a final conclusion about the location of the expected island of spherical doubly-magic superheavy nuclei cannot be drawn ...

We predict ionization potentials of superheavy elements No, Lr, and Rf and their ions using a relativistic hybrid method that combines configuration interaction (CI) with the linearized coupled-cluster approach. Extensive study of the completeness of the four-electron CI calculations for Hf and Rf was carried out. As a test of theoretical accuracy, we also calculated ionization potential of Yb,...

We consider the possibility that ultra-high energy cosmic rays originate from the annihilation of relic superheavy darkmatter.We find that a cross section of 〈σAv〉 ∼ 10cm(MX/10 GeV)3/2 is required to account for the observed rate of super-GZK events if the superheavy dark matter follows a Navarro–Frenk–White density profile. This would require extremely large-l contributions to the annihilation...

We show that there are discrete gauge symmetries protect naturally heavy X particles from decaying into the ordinary light particles in the supersymmetric standard model. This makes the proposal very attractive that the superheavy X particles constitute a part of the dark matter in the present universe. It is more interesting that there are a class of discrete gauge symmetries which naturally a...

Configuration-constrained calculations of potential-energy surfaces in even-even superheavy nuclei reveal systematically the existence at low excitation energies of multiquasiparticle states with deformed axially symmetric shapes and large angular momenta. These results indicate the prevalence of long-lived, multiquasiparticle isomers. In a quantal system, the ground state is usually more stabl...

We present the first experimental evidence of scissors mode in superheavy nucleus 254No produced 208Pb(48Ca, 2nγ))254No reaction. The spectrum γ rays emitted by excited nuclei shows an enhanced γ-ray yield for transition energies ≈2.5 MeV. By measuring linear polarization properties rays, we confirm that transitions enhancement region are predominantly magnetic-dipole character, characteristic ...

The dependence of fission barriers on the excitation energy of the compound nucleus impacts the survival probability of superheavy nuclei synthesized in heavy-ion fusion reactions. In this work, we investigate the isentropic fission barriers by means of the self-consistent nuclear density functional theory. The relationship between isothermal and isentropic descriptions is demonstrated. Calcula...

The number of chemical elements has increased considerably in the last few decades. Most excitingly, these heaviest, man-made elements at the far-end of the Periodic Table are located in the area of the long-awaited superheavy elements. While physical techniques currently play a leading role in these discoveries, the chemistry of superheavy elements is now beginning to be developed. Advanced an...

The structure of nuclei that lie at the edges of stability in the nuclear landscape hold the most discovery potential for new physics. While nuclei along the proton and neutron drip-lines reveal stellar nucleosynthesis pathways, very heavy high-Z nuclei, whose fragility stems from enhanced Coulomb repulsion, lead us towards superheavy physics. The island of superheavy nuclei predicted to lie at...