Synthesis of superheavy elements and the process of complete fusion of massive nuclei

The development of various approaches to describing the complete fusion of nuclei and their connections with experimental studies is discussed. A brief account of the dinuclear-system concept (DNSC, the approach proposed at Dubna, is given. The DNSC revealed two important features of the complete fusion of massive nuclei: the existence of the inner fusion barrier B-fus*, and the competition between complete fusion and quasifission channels in a dinuclear system formed at the capture stage. The DNSC was applied to the analysis of reactions used to synthesize superheavy elements (SHE). The DNSC provided a basis for the models of competition between complete-fusion and quasifission channels. Using these models, one can describe the cross section for SHE production in cold- and warm-fusion reactions. (C) 2001 MAIK "Nauka/Interperiodica".