SHE Factory experiments studying chemical properties of super heavy elements using GRAND separator
On January 23-24, 2025 the 60th session of the Program Advisory Committee on Nuclear Physics was held at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research.
Alexander Svirikhin, Head of FLNR Sector for Reactions of Formation and Structure of Heavy Nuclei presented the latest results of SHE Factory research using GRAND separator. In 2023 the separator was equipped with an upgraded GABRIELA detection system which ensured high efficiency of gamma-quanta registration. That allowed FLNR researchers to significantly expand their capabilities to study chemical and physical properties of superheavy nuclei. Thus during recent experiments studying complete fusion reactions resulting in formation of plutonium and nobelium isotopes the new data on the radiactive decay of these isotopes were obtained.
The future research program includes experiments to study chemical properties of flerovium and copernicum using the “Cryodetector” setup which uses GRAND as a pre-separator. Upgrade of the detection system and ability to work at increased ion beam intensity will make it possble to register dozens of flerovium atoms and its daughter nuclei during an experiment lasting about a month.