Heavy Element Complex Formation Measured by FIONA

Chemistry performed with the heaviest elements is limited due to their relatively short half-lives and lack of material. It is difficult to characterize the reaction products, thus most chemistry that has been done is inferring and comparing to their lighter element homologs. Instead, FIONA (For the Identification Of Nuclide A), at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 88- Inch Cyclotron facility, can be used for mass identification of these elements. Studies of their chemical behavior can be made with a novel gas-phase chemistry technique. The heavy nuclide is produced through a fusion-evaporation reaction, and then separated by Berkeley Gas-filled Separator. It is then collected in the radiofrequency quadrupole trap, and held for a chosen trapping time. At this point, reactive gas is injected into the system and allowed time for the chemical reaction to take place. The reaction product is then passed to FIONA for identification via a mass measurement. This has been done with ²⁵⁴No produced through ²⁰⁸Pb(⁴⁸Ca, 2n)²⁵⁴No, and preliminary analysis and results will be presented.