New Result in the Production and Decay of an Isotope,²⁷⁸113, of the 113th Element

Abstract

An isotope of the 113th element, i.e., 278[113], was produced in a nuclear\nreaction with a 70Zn beam on a 209Bi target. We observed six consecutive\n{\\alpha}-decays following the implantation of a heavy particle in nearly the\nsame position in the semiconductor detector under an extremely low background\ncondition. The fifth and sixth decays are fully consistent with the sequential\ndecays of 262Db and 258Lr in both decay energies and decay times. This\nindicates that the present decay chain consisted of 278[113], 274Rg (Z=111),\n270Mt (Z=109), 266Bh (Z=107), 262Db (Z=105), and 258Lr (Z=103) with firm\nconnections. This result, together with previously reported results from 2004\nand 2007, conclusively leads to the unambiguous production and identification\nof the isotope 278[113] of the 113th element.\n