1. Stepping into the Sea of Instability: The New Sub-us Superheavy Nucleus 252Rf
- Author
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Khuyagbaatar, J., Mosat, P., Ballof, J., Cantemir, R. A., Düllmann, Ch. E., Hermainski, K., Heßberger, F. P., Jäger, E., Kindler, B., Krier, J., Kurz, N., Löchner, S., Lommel, B., Schausten, B., Wei, Y., Wieczorek, P., and Yakushev, A.
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Nuclear Experiment - Abstract
We report the discovery of the new isotope $^{252}$Rf. With its extremely short half-life of $60^{+90}_{-30}$~ns, it expands the range of half-lives of the known superheavy nuclei by about two orders of magnitude. This nucleus was synthesized in its high-$K$ isomeric state, for which we measured a half-life of $13^{+4}_{-3}$~$\mu$s. Our results confirm a smooth onset of decreasing ground-state spontaneous fission half-lives in the neutron-deficient Rf isotopes towards the isotopic border of $10^{-14}$~s, which is the time needed to form an atomic shell. Our findings set a new benchmark for further exploration of phenomena associated with high-$K$ states and inverted fission-stability in the heaviest nuclei.
- Published
- 2025
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