Radioactive beam facilities are enabling an exploration at the limits of the nuclear chart, unlocking access to extremely neutron- or proton-rich isotopes where we can probe the emergence of clusterisation, few-body structure and shell evolution. Meanwhile, the quest for new elements has been stalled, facing the technical limitation of moving past Ca-48 as a projectile. Using a combination of time-dependent and -independent mean-field theory, I will present how structure properties drive the outcomes of these reactions. I will also discuss how exotic systems may provide a viable alternative for producing new superheavy isotopes. The systems in question exhibit strong interplay of continuum and bound properties, due to their near-threshold states. This raises new questions, in particular how to accurately predict the few-body structure of neutron rich systems, which can best be addressed by few-body models. I will present some preliminary results on predicting two-neutron halos using a model in which structure and reactions aspects are treated consistently. Finally, I will mention some of my future directions of research, to provide accurate theoretical guidance in the experimental search for new isotopes.
Whereabouts of the laboratory on the Paris-Saclay campus
Bat. 100, general room map
C. Hebborn