Superheavy Elements — Status of Research in Dubna

This paper presents results of experiments aimed at producing long-lived superheavy elements located near the spherical shell closures with Z ≥114 and N ≥172 in the reactions of neutron-rich isotopes 244Pu, 245,248Cm and 249Cf with 48Ca projectiles. The decay properties of the synthesized nuclei are consistent with the consecutive α-decays originating in the decays of parent nuclides 289114, 290,291,293116 and 294118 produced in the 2n and 3n-evaporation channels. The present observations can be considered to be experimental evidence of the existence of the “island of stability” of superheavy elements.