First experimental tests of the kinematic separator SHELS (Separator for Heavy ELement Spectroscopy).

Abstract

Investigations of complete fusion reactions leading to the synthesis of heavy and superheavy nuclei have been an important part of the experimental program at the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions (JINR, Dubna). For synthesis and decay studies of heavy nuclei, a project of modernization of the existing experimental set up VASSILISSA is now underway. The results of the first experimental tests with the modernized VASSILISSA separator are presented, in particular the experimentally measured transmission coefficients for recoil nuclei synthesized in asymmetric reactions with a 22Ne beam. These results completely confirm the ion optical calculations performed during the design stage of the modernization.