STUDY of SHE AT GSI - STATUS AND PERSPECTIVES FOR THE NEXT DECADE

An extensive program on synthesis of superheavy elements (SHE) and investigating their nuclear structure as well as their chemical properties has been performed at the UNILAC accelerator at GSI during the past three decades. Highlights of this research program were the identification of the new elements with atomic numbers Z = 107-112, detailed nuclear structure investigations and discovery of new K isomers in the transfermium region, first chemical characterization of element 108 (hassium) and identification of the deformed doubly magic nucleus ²⁷⁰Hs. Part of the latest results are presented and discussed. Current and prospected upgrades of the facility and the experimental set-ups are presented.