[en] Slowing down and stopping of the heaviest atoms, products of the fusion–evaporation nuclear reactions, during their passage through the Dubna gas-filled recoil separator has been studied using TRIM simulations. The study is important for experiments on the synthesis of super-heavy elements (SHEs) with atomic numbers around Z_P = 114 produced with accelerated heavy ion (HI) beams and extracted with a separator for their detection. The average Mylar stopping power (SP) values obtained with the simulations for HIs with 82 ⩽ Z_P ⩽ 92 reveal almost the same magnitudes, allowing extrapolation to the region of Z_P > 92. Similar extrapolation of the ranges in an He + Ar gas mixture leads to rather small values for the heaviest atoms (Z_P ⩾ 102) as compared to the range for U. The extrapolated values have large uncertainties and should be verified with different approaches. Available SP data obtained for HIs with 18 ⩽ Z_P ⩽ 92 at energies E < 20 MeV/u have been analysed within various semi-empirical approaches. The analysis has shown that existing parameterizations give Mylar SP values for Z_P ⩾ 82 that are very different from each other at energies of interest (around 0.1 MeV/u). We propose to use a general approach based on the HI effective charge parameterization obtained with available SP data for HIs and the hydrogen SP and effective charge corresponding to the same velocity and stopping medium as those for HIs. In this manner, the SPs of the gases H_2, He, C_4H_1_0, and Ar as well as those of the solids Mylar, C, Al, and Ti have been obtained for any atoms with Z_P ⩾ 18 (including the heaviest ones) at their reduced velocities 0.03 ⩽ V_r_e_d ⩽ 5.0. The SP values derived in such a way seem to be more reliable compared to the existing semi-empirical calculations and can be used in the conditioning of experiments on the synthesis of SHEs.

[en] The results on the synthesis of new superheavy elements, synthesized in complete fusion reactions of ⁴⁸Ca ions with actinide targets, are summarized and analyzed. The perspectives for the synthesis of element 117, as well as of elements with Z≥118 are also considered.

[en] The state-of-the-art of studies dealing with the synthesis and properties of new superheavy elements is scrutinized. The experiments intended to identify and study the chemical properties of superheavy elements, as well as the facilities used for this purpose, are described. Special attention focuses on the theoretical assessment of the relativistic effects on the properties of these elements. The prospects of these investigations have been considered in the light of the creation of the world's first Factory of Superheavy Elements in Russia.The bibliography includes 48 references. (review)

[en] Gas-phase chromatography studies of nihonium (Nh, Z = 113) were carried out at the one-atom-at-a-time level. For the production of nihonium, the heavy-ion-induced nuclear fusion reaction of "4"8Ca with "2"4"3Am was used. This leads to isotopes "2"8"4","2"8"5Nh, as the direct descendants of the α-decaying precursors "2"8"8","2"8"9Mc. Combining the Dubna Gas-Filled Recoil Separator with gas-phase chromatographic separation, the experiment was sensitive to elemental nihonium and its adsorption behavior on Teflon, theoretically predicted by modern relativistic density functional theory. The non-observation of any decays of Nh after the chemical separation indicates a larger than expected retention of elemental Nh on a Teflon surface. (orig.)