Optimal ways to produce heavy and superheavy nuclei

Optimal reactions to produce superheavy nuclei are discussed. The models of fusion are reviewed. The dependence of calculated evaporation residue cross sections on the predicted nuclear properties is presented. The reactions are suggested to produce nuclei with Z=119 and 120, and unknown isotopes of superheavy nuclei. The evaporation residue cross sections are predicted for future experiments. The relationship between the self-consistent methods and microscopic–macroscopic approaches is considered.