The excitation function for the 208Pb(52Cr, n)259Sg reaction has been measured using the Berkeley Gas-filled Separator at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 88-Inch Cyclotron. The maximum cross section of pb is observed at a center-of-target laboratory-frame energy of 253.0 MeV. In total, 25 decay chains originating from 259Sg were observed and the measured decay properties are in good agreement with previous reports. In addition, a partial excitation function for the 208Pb(52Cr, 2n)258Sg reaction was obtained, and an improved 258Sg half-life of ms was calculated by combining all available experimental data.

The excitation function for production of 262Bh in the odd-Z-projectile reaction 208Pb(55Mn,n) has been measured at three projectile energies using the Berkeley Gas-filled Separator at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 88-Inch Cyclotron. In total, 33 decay chains originating from 262Bh and 2 decay chains originating from 261Bh were observed. The measured decay properties are in good agreement with previous reports. The maximum cross section of 540 +180 -150 pb is observed at a lab-frame center-of-target energy of 264.0 MeV and is more than fives times larger than that expected based on previously reported results for production of 262Bh in the analogous even-Z-projectile reaction 209Bi(54Cr,n). Our results indicate that the optimum beam energy in one-neutron-out heavy-ion fusion reactions can be estimated simply using the "Optimum Energy Rule" proposed by Swiatecki, Siwek-Wilczynska, and Wilczynski.

An attempt to confirm production of superheavy elements in the reaction of 48Ca beams with actinide targets has been performed using the 238U(48Ca,3n)283112 reaction. Two 48Ca projectile energies were used, that spanned the energy range where the largest cross sections have been reported for this reaction. No spontaneous fission events were observed. No alpha decay chains consistent with either reported or theoretically predicted element 112 decay properties were observed. The cross section limits reached are significantly smaller than the recently reported cross sections.

We report the experimental confirmation of the production of element110. In the bombardment of a 208Pb target with a 309~;MeV 64Ni beam, we have observed two chains of time- and position-correlated events. Each chain consisted of the implantation of an evaporation residue followed by the emission of alpha-particles. We attribute these two chains to the decay of 271-110 produced with a cross section of 8.3 (+11/-5.3)pb.

Using Gammasphere data on prompt gamma rays from spontaneous fission of 252Cf, we propose energy-level schemes for 110,111,112, & 113Rh (Z=45). The fission-gamma data complement earlier studies of others on beta decay of fission products in that prompt fission gammas mainly populate yrast or near-yrast levels, while beta decay populates lower-spin levels. For the odd-A rhodium nuclei studied here, their ground bands and collective sidebands are compared with model calculations using triaxial-shaped nucleus with one odd quasi-proton. The energies and E2 transition rates are best fit by a shape slightly to the prolate side of maximum triaxiality, namely, gamma = 28 deg. The model calculations also show a K=1/2+ band with energies not in good agreement with a corresponding exerimental band. The experimental 1/2+ band is regarded as an intruder band from a prolate-driving proton orbital 1/2[431] above the Z=50 closed shell. This intruder band, seen in other odd-A Rh isotopes, is probably more deformed and prolate and would not be expected to be fit at the same triaxial shape parameter as the 7/2+ ground band. We observe a band-crossing (backbending) in the odd-A ground bands above spins of about 21/2. The odd-odd nuclei 110 and 112 Rh show mainly a single band with no backbending up to higherfrequency than the backbend in the odd-A isotopes. It is concluded that the backbend is due to alignment of a pair of h11/2 neutrons.