Sequential fission and the influence of 208Pb closed shells on the dynamics of superheavy element synthesis reactions

Measured binary quasifission mass spectra in reactions with actinide nuclides show a large peak in yield near the doubly-magic 208Pb, generally attributed to enhanced binding energy causing a valley in the potential energy surface, which attracts quasifission trajectories. Measurements of binary quasifission mass spectra and cross-sections have been made for reactions of 50Ti with actinide nuclides from 232Th to 249Cf. Cross-sections have also been deduced for sequential fission (a projectile-like nucleus and two fragments from fission of the complementary target-like nucleus). Binary cross-sections fall from 70% of calculated capture cross-sections for 232Th to only 40% for 249Cf, with a compensating increase in sequential fission cross-sections. The data are consistent with the peak in yield near 208Pb originating largely from sequential fission of heavier fragments produced in more mass-asymmetric primary quasifission events. These are increasingly suppressed as the heavy quasifission fragment mass increases above 208Pb. The important role of sequential fission calls for re-interpretation of quasifission observables and dynamics in superheavy element synthesis reactions.