Fusion analysis of Nobelium isotopes via Pb + Ca based reactions

Abstract

More than seven decades have passed since the discovery of artificial elements (Np and Pu) intensified the forage of new elements. The study of different nuclear fusion and subsequent decay mechanisms of a composite system (equilibrated or non-equilibrated) formed in heavy ion reactions has proven to be useful to extract valuable information regarding reaction dynamics and the associated structural effects of newly synthesized nuclei. Both the cold (Pb and Bi based) and hot (48Ca induced) fusion reactions have been used for the amalgamation of very heavy and superheavy nuclei and numerous new isotopes have been synthesized. Among these synthesis reactions, Pb+Ca reaction is of much interest as it takes into account signature of both reaction mechanisms. Keeping this in mind, this dissertation work is focused to study the 208Pb+48Ca → 256No* reaction. The experimentally available capture cross-sections for aforementioned reaction are addressed using Wong and ℓ-summed Wong models where the latter seems more suitable to address the available data. Further, the isotopic analysis of Z=102 nucleus is carried out using different Pb and Ca isotopes to analyze the effect of change in neutrons of target and projectile on corresponding fusion cross sections. This study shows that cross-sections increase with increase in mass number (and hence neutron number) of the composite system. Also, the higher cross-sections are observed for 48Ca - based reactions. Finally, the compound nucleus formation probability (PCN) values are calculated and the resultant fusion cross-sections are estimated.