Do superheavy elements imply the existence of black holes?

Abstract

THE discovery¹ of the superheavy elements 116, 124, and 126 raises the question of where these elements are likely to have been formed. The majority of the post-iron-peak nuclei are thought to have been produced in conditions of explosive nucleosynthesis (the r-process), particularly in conventional supernova explosions. The ability of the r-process to produce superheavy elements is, however, very uncertain². The conditions necessary for superheavy element synthesis (β-decays occurring sufficiently slow that the n γγ n equilibrium is not disturbed) are difficult to realise in astrophysical situations. The n-process (J. B. Blake and D. N. Schramm, unpublished) requires less extreme conditions (the β decays are important) and may occur more often. The majority of the elements normally attributed to the r-process may have been synthesised in this way. Neutron-induced fission causes both processes to terminate at nuclei with high proton numbers, Z, but the n-process may allow it to reach the higher Z value.