The search for element 102

Abstract

SYNTHESIS AND IDENTIFICATION of chemical elements with atomic numbers greater than 100 (fermium) have been accomplished with extremely small amounts, literally on a one-atom-at-a-time basis. At the present time these elements can only be formed with accelerated ions, ranging from neon to helium, that bombard targets from uranium to einsteinium. Because of their minuscule transmutation cross sections, such experiments are extremely difficult to perform, and often the results are subject to error and uncertainty of interpretation.