The Berkeley Lab path to a new element (Z=120)

Efforts to synthesize elements beyond oganesson (Z=118) will push the limits of current technology due to the expected low production cross sections (below the 100 femtobarn level) and short half-lives (likely of order a few microseconds) for these elements. The approach to making new elements necessitates using beams other than ⁴⁸Ca. The ion source group at the 88-Inch Cyclotron has developed a Ti beam, which, combined with a Cf target, could produce a new element, Z=120. The Ti beam was created using both the VENUS and AECR ion sources and new oven technologies. The 88-Inch Cyclotron is planning to host a new element search involving long running periods (many months) of intense beams (~particle μA ⁵⁰Ti) on actinide targets to approach the theoretical tens of femtobarn production cross sections. An intense ⁵⁰Ti beam combined with the highly efficient Berkeley Gas-filled Separator (BGS) makes a new element search possible. The BGS has been upgraded with a custom-built focal plane detector system and a new digital electronic readout. We will discuss the Berkeley Lab path to synthesizing a new element (Z=120).