2010/06/24 by A. S. Botvina, Alexander Botvina, I. N. Mishustin +3 · 2 citations
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomical and nuclear sciences #Nuclear physics research studies #Nuclear reactor physics and engineering #nucl-th
paper · pdf · doi:10.1142/s0218301310016521
15 pages, 4 figures
arxiv created 2010/06/24 · openalex publication_date 2010/10/01 · arxiv updated 2015/05/19 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
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''.