On search and identification of short-lived super heavy cosmic-ray nuclei ( Z ≥ 110) by fossil track study of the extraterrestrial crystals: Results and perspectives [I]

• Published in: Nuclear physics. A Vol. 718; pp. 410 - 412
• Main Authors: Perelygin, V.P., Bondar, Yu.V., Ensinger, W., Fleischer, R.L., Vater, P., Stetsenko, S.G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 28.07.2003
• ISSN: 0375-9474
• DOI: 10.1016/S0375-9474(03)00816-9

New approaches for investigation of relatively stable nuclei of super heavy element (SHE) ( Z > 110) in Galactic matter by fossil track study of meteoritic crystals is considered. Nuclei of SHE are thought to be the products of nucleosynthesis in explosive processes in our Galaxy. When accelerated to relativistic energies, they can produce extended and stable for many million years trails of damage in nonconducting extraterrestrial crystals, which can be revealed and measured as “fossil” tracks. The first approach basis on the revealing anomalously long “fossil” tracks produced by Galactic cosmic-ray nuclei with Z ≥ 110 and intercomparison of track length spectra of the “fossil” tracks and tracks due to artificially accelerated Kr, Xe, Au, Pb and U ions after partial controlled annealing of the crystals with both extra-long “fossil” and “fresh” tracks. The other approach to search for and identify SHE in nature is based on looking for 2-prong and 3-prong fission fragment tracks from spontaneous fission of Z ≥ 110 nuclei in the extraterrestrial phosphate crystals.