• Question: Is it theoretically possible for a super-heavy element with around z=115 to exist with a stable isotope (the 'island of stability theory')? If so, is it possible that this element could exist naturally in the universe somewhere, having been formed from a colossal supernova?

    Asked by kraknor to Adam, Geoff, Rob, Sheila, Suzie on 18 Mar 2011 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Adam Tuff

      Adam Tuff answered on 17 Mar 2011:

      Fantastic question! (I was actually in Germany in August when they named element z = 112, Copernicium). I think we’re up to z = 118 – but we’ve only made 114, 116 and 118 as they are easier to produce (they’re not easy to produce at all to begin with). When you look at nuclear structure, you see a pattern emerge in their stability – these numbers are deemed “magic” numbers (They’re not so much magic – we can explain them with our models of how the nucleons arrange themselves!). Anyway, I’m not too sure about the number 115, but we’ve produced isotopes of elements around z=108-110 that are much more stable than predicted with much greater half-lives.

      With our current understanding we think you can make the elements up to around Californium (which we don’t actually see in space I don’t think – it’s only been made in a lab), but I don’t see any reason for why something like a hypernova event (a detonation of a super-huge Wolf-Rayet star) wouldn’t give us environments of even more incredible temperatures allowing super-heavy element formation. However, it’s a bit odd we haven’t seen any anywhere though…perhaps this is evidence for no island of stability? Definitely one of my favourite questions so far!!

    • Photo: Suzie Sheehy

      Suzie Sheehy answered on 18 Mar 2011:

      Great question. This is still an active area of research, although there is a lot less funding for nuclear physics around the world nowdays… it is an important question of whether there is an island of stability for super-heavy elements!

      As you rightly point out, the ‘island of stability theory’ is just a theory, so we need experimental evidence that these heavy isotopes exist and have long half-lives. If they do, I don’t see any fundamental reason by they couldn’t exist naturally in the universe somewhere! If we’re able to do it with a particle accelerator then it should be possible that with the right building blocks and conditions existed to make them. There just might only be a very tiny amount of them
      There’s some interesting reading on superheavy elements here if you want to read more:
      http://pubs.acs.org/cen/80th/darmstadtium.html

      Lastly: I’m not a nuclear physicist so I might be wrong on this! (though I think Adam is, so you could think of asking him the same question if you haven’t already).

    • Photo: Sheila Kanani

      Sheila Kanani answered on 18 Mar 2011:

      Well theoretically anything is possible and these super heavy elements and the island of stability theory do seem to make sense. Of course we haven’t actually found anything like z=115 just yet (though we have found heavy even number particles).
      And I guess if these do exist then they would have to be made in supernovae, becauase as far as we know every single element is made in a supernovae explosion, or when stars burn to iron.
      Making these super heavy elements on Earth would be too difficult because what we do have on Earth wouldn’t give us enough neutrons to make a super heavy element.
      Great question tho!

    • Photo: Robert Simpson

      Robert Simpson answered on 18 Mar 2011:

      I’m sure that Adam one Suzie can answer this one better than I can. If such an element does exist naturally it will have to produced in a supernova, as that is where all elements seem to be produced beyond Hydrogen, Helium and Lithium.

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