Production of the Heaviest Elements by Multiple Neutron Capture

Abstract

Calculations have been made showing the buildup of higher nuclides in samples of various heavy-element starting materials at neutron fluxes ranging from 4 × 10¹³ to 1 × 10¹⁶n/(cm²s). Attempts have been made to estimate yields of the heavier fermium isotopes and of ²⁵⁹ Md by means of the nuclear properties predicted from systematics.