On possibility of synthesizing superheavy elements in nuclear explosions

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential of creating superheavy elements through low-yield nuclear explosions using a kinetic model, suggesting feasible production of heavy nuclei that could reach the island of stability after decay.

Contribution

It introduces a simple kinetic model to analyze superheavy element synthesis in nuclear explosions, including neutron capture, gamma emission, and fission processes.

Findings

Detectable amounts of heavy nuclei absorbing 20-60 neutrons can be produced.

Produced nuclei may reach the island of stability after beta-decay.

The model predicts mass distributions of U and Cm nuclei under impulsive neutron flux.

Abstract

The possibility to produce superheavy elements in the course of low-yield nuclear explosions is analyzed within a simple kinetic model which includes neutron capture, gamma-emission, fission and particle evaporation from excited nuclei. We have calculated average numbers of absorbed neutrons as well as mass distributions of U and Cm nuclei exposed to an impulsive neutron flux, as functions of its duration. It is demonstrated that detectable amounts of heavy nuclei absorbing from 20 to 60 neutrons may be produced in this process. According to an optimistic scenario, after multiple beta-decay such nuclei may reach the long-living elements of the predicted ``island of stability''.