Sub-barrier fusion reactions

TL;DR

This paper reviews heavy-ion fusion reactions near the Coulomb barrier, discussing the fusion process, nuclear structure effects, quantum tunneling, and applications to superheavy elements.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of sub-barrier fusion reactions, highlighting recent developments and the interplay between nuclear structure and fusion mechanisms.

Findings

Fusion process involves complex quantum tunneling.

Nuclear structure significantly influences fusion probabilities.

Fusion techniques are advancing towards superheavy element synthesis.

Abstract

The concept of compound nucleus was proposed by Niels Bohr in 1936 to explain narrow resonances observed in scattering of a slow neutron off atomic nuclei. A compound nucleus is a metastable state with a long lifetime, in which all the degrees of freedom are in a sort of thermal equilibrium. Fusion reactions are defined as reactions to form such compound nucleus by merging two atomic nuclei. Here a short description of heavy-ion fusion reactions at energies close the Coulomb barrier is presented. This includes: (i) an overview of a fusion process, (ii) a strong interplay between nuclear structure and fusion, (iii) fusion and multi-dimensional/multi-particle quantum tunneling, and (iv) fusion for superheavy elements.