International WE Heraeus Summer School: Atomic Properties of the Heaviest Elements

International WE-Heraeus Summer School Atomic Properties of the Heaviest Elements from "hot" fusion to ultracold ions August 24th- September 6th, 2008 Wittenberg, Germany: ----------- Superheavy element (SHE) research is one of today's biggest experimental and theoretical challenges. This multidisciplinary field combines nuclear physics, atomic physics, theoretical physics, chemistry and quantum chemistry with state-of-the-art computational and engineering methods. The earliest studies of the atomic and chemical properties of the heaviest actinides led to unmatched scientific discoveries: chemical analysis of the first attempts to create Superheavy elements led - at first - to the discovery of nuclear fission. Later, systematic investigations of fission fragments led - in turn - to the discovery of the first trans-uranium elements and opened up the way for the synthesis of Superheavy elements. The production of ever heavier elements and the investigation of their nuclear structure are unique tools to improve our knowledge and understanding of nuclear matter and nuclear forces under extreme conditions. In addition valuable information is added to our knowledge of stellar nuclear synthesis - the mechanism for the creation of the chemical elements found on earth. Chemical characterization of the nuclear reaction products was at first crucial for the element identification. Later, it was replaced by the observation of correlations between recoil-nuclei and subsequent α-decay chains. Today, both approaches are being combined to face the demanding challenge of unambiguous isotope identification as has been demonstrated up to Element 114. Due to the development of powerful laser systems during the last decades, atomic physics methods have gained importance in this field, as well. These investigations aim for a better understanding of the electronic structure in the strong nuclear fields of the heaviest elements and yield information on their atomic and nuclear properties. Still, no one has ever seen a transfermium element. The reason is that these elements can only be produced in nuclear fusion reactions at heavy ion accelerators at rates below 10 atoms per second. Typical half life times in the order of milliseconds hamper any attempt to produce macroscopic- and thus visible- amounts of the heaviest members of the periodic table. Combining techniques from quantum logic with existing methods for production, stopping and cooling of single Superheavy ions may not only render these elements visible but may also pave the way for precision experiments with ultracold ions which have been inaccessible, so far. The scope of the school will cover all major topics in Superheavy element research and aims for an interdisciplinary formation of students in Physics and Chemistry from the 3. year of university up to postdoctoral studies.