Fission time measurements: a new probe into superheavy element stability.
Reaction mechanism analyses performed with a 4pi detector for the systems 208Pb + Ge, 238U + Ni and 238U + Ge, combined with analyses of the associated reaction time distributions, provide us with evidence for nuclei with Z=120 and 124 living longer than 10(-18) s and arising from highly excited compound nuclei. By contrast, the neutron deficient nuclei with Z=114 possibly formed in 208Pb + Ge reactions have shorter lifetimes, close to or below the sensitivity limit of the experiment.
Morjean
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GANIL, CEA-DSM, and IN2P3-CNRS, B.P. 55027, F-14076 Caen Cedex, France. morjean@ganil.fr
Jacquet
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Charvet
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L'Hoir
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Laget
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Parlog
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Chbihi
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Chevallier
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Cohen
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Dauvergne
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Dayras
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Frankland
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Kirsch
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Testa
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