Extending studies of the fusion of heavy nuclei to the neutron-rich region using accelerated radioactive ion beams

One of the stated goals for proposed and existing facilities that produce and accelerate radioactive ion beams is to explore and achieve a new understanding of the reactions mechanisms leading to the synthesis of the heaviest nuclei. Nuclear synthesis of two large nuclei into a single entity is a complex multistep process. The beam intensities of radioactive ions accelerated at present day facilities are not sufficient to synthesize super heavy elements. However the study of the iso-spin dependence of nuclear synthesis and the many processes competing with it can be carried out at present day facilities. Of special interest are cases where the interacting nuclei and the synthesized product are extremely neutron-rich. The effects of neutron excess on the reaction processes leading to the formation of the synthesized nucleus that emerged in earlier studies are poorly understood and sometimes counter intuitive. Results from measurements performed at HRIBF, as well as our plans for future measurements and the equipment being prepared will be presented.