Fusion cross section of the superheavy $Z$ = 120 nuclei within the relativistic mean-field formalism

TL;DR

This study uses the relativistic mean-field formalism to predict optimal projectile-target combinations for synthesizing element Z=120, analyzing fusion cross-sections and surface properties to guide experimental efforts.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach combining RMF density distributions, R3Y interactions, and surface diffusion parameters to identify best fusion reactions for Z=120 synthesis.

Findings

Ti-based reactions with Cf targets are most suitable for Z=120 synthesis.

The surface diffusion parameter correlates with fusion cross-sections.

$^{48}$Ca beams are effective for Z=120 production.

Abstract

Present theoretical investigations aim to explore the fusion characteristics of various isotopes of Z=120 within the relativistic mean-field (RMF) formalism. We predict the most suitable projectile-target combination for the synthesis of element Z=120. The microscopic nucleon-nucleon R3Y interaction and the RMF density distributions for targets and projectiles are used to calculate the nuclear interaction potential using the double folding approach. 17 different projectile-target combinations that allow a high $N$/$Z$ ratio are considered in the present analysis to calculate the capture and/or fusion cross-section of various isotopes of Z=120 within the $\ell-$summed Wong formula. Further, the equivalent surface diffusion parameter is estimated to correlate the surface properties interacting nuclei with the fusion cross-section. The four Ti-based reactions with the heaviest available target $^{x}$Cf, namely, $^{46}$Ti+$^{248}$Cf, $^{46}$Ti+$^{249}$Cf, $^{50}$Ti+$^{249}$Cf, and $^{50}$Ti+$^{252}$Cf, and also $^{54}$Cr+$^{250}$Cm are found to have the most suitable target-projectile combinations for the synthesis of various isotopes Z=120. We also notice that $^{48}$Ca beams merely provide the required number of protons to synthesize the element with Z=120. We established a correlation among the surface properties of interacting nuclei with the fusion characteristics in terms of the equivalent surface diffusion parameter.