[en] Experiments leading to transuranium and far transuranium nuclei as far as element 106 (seaborgium) are described. Physical knowledge derived from experimental data at this stage of complete synthesis nuclear reactions since the 1980s is analyzed. The effect of the shell structure on the stability of the nuclei, the extra-push effect, and the effect of isospin are discussed. Experiments leading to the synthesis of nuclei with Z = 107 - 112 by cold fusion are also described, as are hot fusion reactions resulting in superheavy nuclei Z = 114, 116 where, however, confirmation is only pending. Current state of the art in this area is also highlighted

[en] In order to further increase the intensity of ion beams used in high-current experiments, e.g. the synthesis of heavy and superheavy elements, it is necessary to develop methods for cooling the targets sufficiently below the melting point which is particularly low in the case of metallic lead and bismuth targets. In this paper we describe measurements for various fixed targets and rotating target wheels in vacuum as well as in a stationary He-gas and a He-gas flow as cooling medium. As a result improvements of the target system are suggested, which will allow for a considerable increase of the beam intensity

[en] The nuclear shell model predicts that the next doubly magic shell-closure beyond ²⁰⁸Pb is at a proton number Z = 114, 120, or 126 and at a neutron number N = 172 or 184. The outstanding aim of experimental investigations is the exploration of this region of spherical 'Super-Heavy Elements' (SHEs). The measured decay data reveal that for the heaviest elements, the dominant decay mode is α emission, not fission. Decay properties as well as reaction cross-sections are compared with results of theoretical investigations. Finally, plans are presented for the further development of the experimental set-up and the application of new techniques.At a higher sensitivity, the exploration of the region of spherical SHEs now becomes feasible, more than thirty years after its prediction

[en] New microsecond isomers in the neutron-deficient isotopes ^189g,190Bi have been identified after in-flight separation by the velocity filter SHIP. The evaporation residues were identified on the basis of delayed recoil- γ/X-ray, recoil- γ/X-ray- α and excitation function measurements. The systematics of the [ π1i _13/2]13/2 ⁺ excited states in the odd-mass Bi nuclei is discussed. (orig.)

[en] New neutron-deficient isotopes ^188,189Po have been produced in the complete fusion reaction of ⁵²Cr ions with a ¹⁴²Nd target at the velocity filter SHIP. The evaporation residues were separated in-flight and subsequently identified on the basis of α-γ and α-conversion electron coincidence measurements and of α-α position and time correlations. In ¹⁸⁹Po a ground state to ground state α decay with E_α1=7540(20) keV, T_1/2=5(1) ms and two fine structure α-decays at E_α2=7264(15) keV and E_α3=7316(15) keV have been observed. In ¹⁸⁸Po (T_1/2=400⁺²⁰⁰_-150μs) a ground state to ground state α decay at E_α=7915(25) keV and a fine structure α decay at E_α=7350(40) keV have been found. Improved data on the α-decay of ¹⁸⁹Bi were obtained. (orig.)

No abstract available

[en] We report on the status of target development for the heavy-element program at GSI, namely for the SHIP experiment. We present some recent results in enhancing the durability of the targets irradiated with the more and more intense heavy-ion beams. The enhancement of the beam intensity is necessary in order to keep beam times at reasonable length despite cross sections in the picobam region. We synthesised new compound targets on ²⁰⁸Pb-basis with significantly higher melting temperatures and built up a target monitoring system. To investigate the high-current targets and develop an active cooling system we built up a test bench for offline experiments

No abstract available

[en] The even-even nucleus ²⁷⁰110 was synthesized using the reaction ⁶⁴Ni + ²⁰⁷Pb. A total of eight α-decay chains was measured during an irradiation time of seven days. Decay data were obtained for the ground-state and a high-spin K isomer. The new nuclei ²⁶⁶Hs and ²⁶²Sg were identified as daughter products after α-decay. Spontaneous fission of ²⁶²Sg terminates the decay chain. The measured data are in agreement with calculations using the macroscopic-microscopic model and with self-consistent HFB calculations with Skyrme-Sly4 interaction. (orig.)

[en] The isotopes ²⁵¹No and ²⁵³No were produced in nuclear reactions ²⁰⁶Pb(⁴⁸Ca,3n)²⁵¹No and ²⁰⁷Pb(⁴⁸Ca,2n) ²⁵³No. Radioactive decay of these isotopes and their daughter products has been investigated by means of α- and α-γ- spectroscopy. An isomeric state ^251mNo, having a half-life of T_1/2=(0.93±0.06) s and decaying by emission of α particles of E_α=(8665±8) keV was identified. The measured decay data allowed for the construction of partial level schemes for ²⁵¹No, ^247,249Fm and ^243,245Cf and an extrapolation of energy systematics of single particle levels of N=145, 147 and 149 isotones with even Z towards higher atomic numbers up to Z=102. (orig.)