OVERVIEW: HISTORY AND PERSPECTIVE OF THE SEARCH FOR SUPERHEAVY ELEMENTS

Abstract

Although superheavy elements had been postulated earlier, the current wave of international interest in these elements began in the latter part of the 1960's as a result of predictions of unusual nuclear stability around element 114. Another island of stability was later postulated around element 164. Theoretical studies of half-lives then led to investigations of the dynamics of heavy ion reactions that might produce these superheavy elements at accelerators. Also theoretical studies concerning the astrophysical r process have evaluated the probability that superheavy elements may have been formed in a supernova event or in a man-made nuclear explosion. These latter calculations were needed because predicted half-lives of some superheavy elements would allow them to exist in nature. An important immediate result of this new field of endeavor, motivated by the search for superheavy elements, has been a much better understanding of the previously poorly understood fission process.