Status and Prospects of Heavy Element Nuclear Chemistry Research at JAERI

Abstract

The present status of heavy element nuclear chemistry research at JAERI (Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute) is reviewed. Successful production of the transactinide nuclei, ²⁶¹Rf and ²⁶²Db via the reactions of ²⁴⁸Cm (¹⁸O, 5n) and ²⁴⁸Cm (¹⁹F, 5n), respectively at the JAERI tandem accelerator is presented. Aqueous chemistry of Rf is being carried out with a newly developed rapid ion-exchange separation apparatus. Anion-exchange behavior of Rf in HCl solution is shortly discussed. Recent experimental results on decay studies of neutron-deficient actinide nuclei using the gas-jet coupled JAERI-ISOL are also given. Prospects for the near future studies are briefly considered.