In the new research, scientists from several of the world’s largest scientific centers have reached the limits of the Mendeleev table. Professor Bradley Chila and his group from Liverpool University applied laser spectroscopy methodology to measure the radius of nuclei of the artificially synthesized elements Fermos (100th Element) and Nobelia (102nd Element).
These elements are not found in nature and can only be obtained artificially in special accelerators or nuclear reactors. The synthesis of superheavy elements requires tremendous efforts and resources. Nobelia, for example, was first synthesized in 1957 at the Nobel Institute of Physics in Stockholm, but only in microscopic quantities for scientific purposes.
During the experiments, scientists utilized a complex system of laser equipment to study nobelia atoms and measure their super-fabric structure. The key isotope was obtained from the decay of Lawrence atoms using a specialized methodology involving heating, resonance ionization, and pulsed captivation of atoms from nuclear reaction products.
A significant discovery from the study is the observation of a smooth trend in the behavior of elements with a certain number of neutrons in superheavy elements. Unlike lighter elements that exhibit characteristic jumps when crossing closed shells, the absence of such effects in superheavy elements suggests a weakened effect of nuclear membranes in their case.
The study results provide valuable insights into the extension of the periodic table of elements and offer new data on the behavior of matter at the limits of known values of protons and neutrons in nuclei. This information is crucial for advancements in nuclear physics and materials science.
This research represents a continuation of previous experiments, where the group first employed laser spectroscopy on nobelia atoms in 2016. The methodology has since been enhanced to provide more accurate and detailed data for ongoing scientific explorations.