International Team Discovers New Seaborgium Isotope, Expanding Nuclear Research

An international research team led by the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research (GSI/FAIR), Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU), and the Helmholtz Institute Mainz (HIM) has successfully produced and identified a new isotope of seaborgium, specifically seaborgium-257. The groundbreaking discovery was achieved at the GSI/FAIR accelerator facilities, where researchers detected 22 nuclei of the isotope during experiments conducted with high-intensity chromium-52 beams aimed at high-quality lead-206 targets.

The results of this study were published in the esteemed journal Physical Review Letters and were highlighted as an "Editor’s Suggestion" due to their significance. This discovery adds to the existing knowledge of seaborgium, an artificial superheavy element with atomic number 106, bringing the total number of its isotopes to 14.

Dr. Pavol Mosat, the first author of the publication and a researcher at GSI/FAIR's SHE Chemistry department, remarked on the implications of this discovery, stating, "Our findings on seaborgium-257 provide exciting hints on the impact of shell effects on the fission properties of superheavy nuclei." The half-life of the newly identified seaborgium-257 is measured at 12.6 milliseconds, indicating its transient nature and the complexities involved in studying superheavy elements.

The experimentation process involved utilizing the gas-filled recoil separator TASCA (TransActinide Separator and Chemistry Apparatus) to detect the decays of seaborgium-257, which included 21 fission events and one alpha decay. This research sheds light on the potential fission behavior of isotopes close to the neutron shell gap, particularly seaborgium-256, which may undergo fission in a notably short time range, possibly between one nanosecond to six microseconds.

Dr. Khuyagbaatar Jadambaa, who leads the experimental program at GSI/FAIR, noted, "Our results on a K-isomeric state in seaborgium-259 open a doorway to explore the K-isomer phenomenon in other seaborgium isotopes and to enable the synthesis of the short-lived isotopes, should a long-lived K-isomeric state exist in this nucleus."

The research is not only vital for understanding superheavy elements but also reflects on the collaborative efforts across multiple institutions. In addition to GSI/FAIR and JGU, the University of Jyväskylä in Finland, the Advanced Science Research Center of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, and the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee contributed to this significant scientific achievement.

According to Professor Christoph E. Düllmann, head of the SHE Chemistry department at GSI/FAIR, "The further exploration of the stability and properties of superheavy nuclei jointly with our national and international partners will continue to be an important area of research for our team."

This discovery of seaborgium-257 and the insights into the isotopic border of superheavy nuclei represent crucial advancements in nuclear physics, potentially informing future research directions. The exploration of such isotopes enhances our understanding of nuclear stability and the fundamental forces that govern atomic behavior at extreme scales. Looking ahead, the team anticipates continued collaboration and research into the properties of superheavy elements, which may yield new insights into the island of stability—a theoretical concept that suggests the existence of isotopes with relatively longer half-lives among superheavy elements.

The ongoing research into seaborgium and its isotopes is a testament to the advancements being made in nuclear chemistry and the collaborative spirit of the global scientific community, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to complex scientific inquiries.