Measurement of 208Pb(48Ti,n)255Rf excitation function

have created a model that reproduces much of the cold fusion cross section data to within a factor of two. This model referred to as the Fusion by Diffusion model treats the heavy element formation probability (cross section) as the product of three factors: 1) the probability for sticking (the cross section for projectile and target to overcome the Coulomb barrier and form a composite system), 2) the probability for this composite system to diffuse into a compound nucleus, and 3) the survival probability for this compound nucleus (CN) (the probability that the CN de-excites via emission of a single neutron, rather than fissions). The cross section predictions are summarized in Fig. 1. Points placed directly above each other are cross sections of elements formed by using projectiles differing by two neutrons. The circled pair represents the predicted cross sections for 48Ti and 50Ti beams on a 208Pb target. This projectile pair is particularly interesting for two reasons: a) the largest difference in 1n cross sections and b) a large difference in the predicted shapes of the excitation functions. To test the Fusion by Diffusion theory, we measured the 208Pb(48Ti,n)255Rf excitation function by usin