Congruence of decay chains of elements 113, 115, and 117

• Superheavy element research relies heavily on the detection of correlated decay chains. When several chains have been detected, it is natural to ask whether they form one congruent set, or whether they should be further divided into subsets. To statistically assess the congruence between the chains in a data set, we developed a procedure to calculate a Figure-of-Merit for low-number statistics. In this work, the method is applied to the world data set of odd-Z superheavy nuclei with Z ≥ 113. Some of the postulated sets of chains are found to be congruent, while others are not. The findings are of relevance for the IUPAC and IUPAP approvals of the new elements Z = 113, 115, and 117.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Subatomär fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Subatomic Physics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

superheavy elements

decay chain correlations

Publication and Content Type

kon (subject category)

ref (subject category)