Sub and near barrier fusion of neutron rich heavy nuclei – studies with radioactive ion beams

The availability of accelerated fission fragments at HRIBF allows us to study fusion reactions where one of the reactants is a short-lived exotic nucleus. Most interesting in this respect are entrance channels involving neutron-rich target and projectile – where enhanced survival probability of the compound system may allow the synthesis of heavier system. Much depends though on the dynamic evolution of the captured nuclei into a compound nucleus and the ensuing competition between fission and evaporation residue decay modes. Our studies of fusion between heavy neutron-rich nuclei are aimed at acquiring data that will lead to the understanding and eventually the ability to predict the probabilities for these different processes.