Collision dynamics of two $^{238}$U atomic nuclei

Accepted for publication in Physical Review LetterInternational audienceCollisions of actinide nuclei form, during very short times of few $10^{-21}$~s, the heaviest ensembles of interacting nucleons available on Earth. Such very heavy ions collisions have been proposed as an alternative way to produce heavy and superheavy elements. These collisions are also used to produce super-strong electric fields by the huge number of interacting protons to test spontaneous positron-electron ($e^+e^-$) pair emission predicted by the quantum electrodynamics theory. The time-dependent Hartree-Fock theory which is a fully microscopic quantum approach is used to study collision dynamics of two $^{238}$U atomic nuclei. In particular, the role of nuclear deformation on collision time and on reaction mechanisms such as nucleon transfer is emphasized. These calculations are pessimistic in terms of transfermium elements ($Z>100$) production. However, the highest collision times ($\sim4\times10^{-21}$~s at 1200~MeV) should allow experimental signature of spontaneous $e^+e^-$ emission. Surprisingly, we also observe ternary fission due to purely dynamical effects