Scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery in nuclear physics. An international team, led by GSI/FAIR in Darmstadt, Germany, in collaboration with Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) and the Helmholtz Institute Mainz (HIM), has successfully created a new isotope of seaborgium, seaborgium-257.
In experiments conducted at the GSI/FAIR accelerator facilities, researchers identified 22 atoms of seaborgium-257. This achievement adds to the existing knowledge of the artificial superheavy element seaborgium, bringing the total number of known isotopes to 14. The results of this research have been published in the journal *Physical Review Letters* and recognized as an "Editor's Suggestion."
The creation of seaborgium-257 involved bombarding a thin layer of lead-206 with an intense beam of chromium-52 from the GSI/FAIR UNILAC linear accelerator. The team utilized the highly efficient detection system TASCA (TransActinide Separator and Chemistry Apparatus) to identify the decay of the seaborgium-257 nuclei. The new isotope has a half-life of 12.6 milliseconds.
This discovery is particularly significant because seaborgium-257 is located near the known shell closure at neutron number 152. "Our results on seaborgium-257 provide interesting clues about the influence of shell effects on the fission properties of superheavy nuclei," explained Dr. Pavol Mosat, the lead author of the publication from the GSI/FAIR research department for the study of the chemistry of superheavy elements (SHE-chemistry).
The team also observed strong evidence of a K-isomer state in the seaborgium-259 isotope. This opens new avenues for exploring the K-isomer phenomenon in other seaborgium isotopes and potentially synthesizing the short-lived seaborgium-256 isotope. This research could help map the "island of stability" for superheavy elements.
This research highlights the collaborative efforts of various departments within GSI/FAIR and international partner institutions. The ongoing exploration of the stability and properties of superheavy nuclei will remain a key focus for the research team. This discovery represents a significant step forward in understanding the fundamental nature of matter and could potentially lead to advancements in various fields.