The prospects for the synthesis of transactinide nuclei using radioactive beams are evaluated quantitatively for a modern radioactive beam facility. A simple formalism for calculating the complete fusion cross sections that reproduces the known heavy element production cross sections over six orders of magnitude is used to calculate the production rates for transactinide nuclei with $Z⩽120$. All possible projectile and target combinations are evaluated. Exciting new possibilities for studies of the atomic physics, chemistry, and nuclear spectroscopy of the heaviest elements should be realized at a modern radioactive beam facility. The synthesis of new heavy elements is best undertaken at stable beam accelerators.

• Received 19 March 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.76.014612