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Nobelium (₁₀₂No) is a synthetic element, and thus a standard atomic weight cannot be given. Like all synthetic elements, it has no stable isotopes. The first isotope to be synthesized (and correctly identified) was No in 1966. There are fourteen known radioisotopes, which are No to No and No, and many isomers. The longest-lived isotope is No with a half-life of 58 minutes. The longest-lived isomer is No with a half-life of 1.02 seconds.

List of isotopes

1. No – Excited nuclear isomer.
2. ( ) – Uncertainty (1σ) is given in concise form in parentheses after the corresponding last digits.
3. # – Atomic mass marked #: value and uncertainty derived not from purely experimental data, but at least partly from trends from the Mass Surface (TMS).
4. Modes of decay:

   EC:	Electron capture
   IT:	Isomeric transition
   SF:	Spontaneous fission

5. ( ) spin value – Indicates spin with weak assignment arguments.
6. ^ # – Values marked # are not purely derived from experimental data, but at least partly from trends of neighboring nuclides (TNN).
7. Not directly synthesized, occurs as decay product of Lr

Nucleosynthesis

Cold fusion

Pb(Ca,xn)No (x=1,2,3,4)

This cold fusion reaction was first studied in 1979 at Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions (FLNR). Further work in 1988 at GSI measured EC and SF branchings in No. In 1989, the FLNR used the reaction to measure SF decay characteristics for the two isomers of No. The measurement of the 2n excitation function was reported in 2001 by Yuri Oganessian at the FLNR.

Patin et al. at the LBNL reported in 2002 the synthesis of No in the 1-4n exit channels and measured further decay data for these isotopes.

The reaction has recently been used at Jyväskylän Yliopisto Fysiikan Laitos (JYFL) using the RITU set-up to study K-isomerism in No. The scientists were able to measure two K-isomers with half-lives of 275 ms and 198 s, respectively. They were assigned to 8 and 16 K-isomeric levels.

The reaction was used in 2004–5 at the FLNR to study the spectroscopy of No. The team were able to confirm an isomeric level in No with a half-life of 43.5 s.

Pb(Ca,xn)No (x=2)

This reaction was studied in 2003 at the FLNR in a study of the spectroscopy of No.

Pb(Ca,xn)No (x=2)

The measurement of the 2n excitation function for this reaction was reported in 2001 by Yuri Oganessian and co-workers at the FLNR. The reaction was used in 2004–5 to study the spectroscopy of No.

Pb(Ca,xn)No (x=1,2,3,4)

The measurement of the 1-4n excitation functions for this reaction were reported in 2001 by Yuri Oganessian and co-workers at the FLNR. The 2n channel was further studied by the GSI to provide a spectroscopic determination of K-isomerism in No. A K-isomer with spin and parity 8 was detected with a half-life of 110 ms.

Pb(Ca,xn)No (x=2,3)

The measurement of the 2n excitation function for this reaction was reported in 2001 by Yuri Oganessian at the FLNR. They reported a new isotope No with a half-life of 36 μs. The reaction was used in 2003 to study the spectroscopy of No.They were able to observe two spontaneous fission activities with half-lives of 5.6 μs and 54 μs and assigned to No and No, respectively. The latter activity was later assigned to a K-isomer in No. The reaction was reported in 2006 by Peterson et al. at the Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) in a study of SF in No. They detected two activities with half-lives of 3.7  μs and 43  μs and both assigned to No, the latter associated with a K-isomer. In 2020, a team at FLNR repeated this reaction and found a new 9.1-MeV alpha particle activity correlated to Fm and Cf, which they assigned to the new isotope No.

Hot fusion

Th(Mg,xn)No (x=4,5,6)

The cross sections for the 4-6n exit channels have been measured for this reaction at the FLNR.

U(Ne,xn)No (x=4,5,6)

This reaction was first studied in 1964 at FLNR. The team were able to detect decays from Fm and Fm. The Fm activity was associated with an ~8 s half-life and assigned to 102 from the 4n channel, with a yield of 45 nb. They were also able to detect a 10 s spontaneous fission activity also tentatively assigned to 102. Further work in 1966 on the reaction examined the detection of Fm decay using chemical separation and a parent activity with a half-life of ~50 s was reported and correctly assigned to 102. They also detected a 10 s spontaneous fission activity tentatively assigned to 102. The reaction was used in 1969 to study some initial chemistry of nobelium at the FLNR. They determined eka-ytterbium properties, consistent with nobelium as the heavier homologue. In 1970, they were able to study the SF properties of No. In 2002, Patin et al. reported the synthesis of No from the 4n channel but were unable to detect No.

The cross section values for the 4-6n channels have also been studied at the FLNR.

U(Ne,xn)No

This reaction was studied in 1964 at FLNR. No spontaneous fission activities were observed.

U(Ne,xn)No (x=4,5,6)

The cross sections for the 4-6n exit channels have been measured for this reaction at the FLNR.

U(Ne,xn)No (x=5)

This reaction was studied in 1970 at the FLNR. It was used to study the SF decay properties of No.

U(Ne,xn)No

The synthesis of neutron deficient nobelium isotopes was studied in 1975 at the FLNR. In their experiments they observed a 250 s SF activity, which they tentatively assigned to No in the 5n exit channel. Later results have not been able to confirm this activity and it is currently unidentified.

Pu(O,xn)No (x=4?)

This reaction was studied in 1966 at the FLNR. The team identified an 8.2 s SF activity tentatively assigned to 102.

Pu(O,xn)No

This reaction was first studied in 1958 at the FLNR. The team measured ~8.8 MeV alpha particles with a half-life of 30 s and assigned to 102. A repeat in 1960 produced 8.9 MeV alpha particles with a half-life of 2–40 s and assigned to 102 from the 4n channel. Confidence in these results was later diminished.

Pu(O,xn)No (x=5)

This reaction was studied in 1970 at the FLNR in an effort to study the SF decay properties of No.

Pu(O,xn)No

This reaction was first studied in 1958 at the FLNR. The team were able to measure ~8.8 MeV alpha particles with a half-life of 30 s and assigned to102. A repeat in 1960 was unsuccessful and it was concluded the first results were probably associated with background effects.

Am(N,xn)No (x=4)

This reaction was studied in 1966 at the FLNR. The team were able to detect Fm using chemical techniques and determined an associated half-life significantly higher than the reported 3 s by Berkeley for the supposed parent No. Further work later the same year measured 8.1 MeV alpha particles with a half-life of 30–40 s.

Am(N,xn)No

This reaction was studied in 1966 at the FLNR. They were unable to detect the 8.1 MeV alpha particles detected when using a N-15 beam.

Am(N,xn)No (x=4)

The decay properties of No were examined in 1977 at Oak Ridge. The team calculated a half-life of 2.3 s and measured a 27% SF branching.

Cm(O,αxn)No (x=3)

The synthesis of the new isotope No was reported in 1973 from the LBNL using this reaction.

Cm(C,xn)No (x=3?,4,5)

This reaction was first studied in 1967 at the LBNL. The new isotopes No,No and No were detected in the 3-5n channels. The reaction was repeated in 1970 to provide further decay data for No.

Cm(C,xn)No (4,5?)

This reaction was studied in 1967 at the LBNL in their seminal study of nobelium isotopes. The reaction was used in 1990 at the LBNL to study the SF ofNo.

Cm(C,xn)No (4?,5?)

This reaction was studied in 1967 at the LBNL in their seminal study of nobelium isotopes.

Cm(C,xn)No (4,5)

This reaction was studied in 1958 by scientists at the LBNL using a 5% Cm curium target. They were able to measure 7.43 MeV decays fromFm, associated with a 3 s No parent activity, resulting from the 4n channel. The 3 s activity was later reassigned to No, resulting from reaction with the predominant Cm component in the target. It could however not be proved that it was not due to the contaminantFm, unknown at the time. Later work in 1959 produced 8.3 MeV alpha particles with a half-life of 3 s and a 30% SF branch. This was initially assigned to No and later reassigned to No, resulting from reaction with the Cm component in the target. The reaction was restudied in 1967 and activities assigned to No and No were detected.

Cm(C,xn)No (x=4)

This reaction was first studied in 1957 at the Nobel Institute in Stockholm. The scientists detected 8.5 MeV alpha particles with a half-life of 10 minutes. The activity was assigned to No or No. The results were later dismissed as background. The reaction was repeated by scientists at the LBNL in 1958 but they were unable to confirm the 8.5 MeV alpha particles. The reaction was further studied in 1967 at the LBNL and an activity assigned to No was measured.

Cm(C,xn)No (x=4,5)

This reaction was studied in 1958 by scientists at the LBNL using a 95% Cm curium target. They were able to measure 7.43 MeV decays fromFm, associated with a 3 s No parent activity, resulting from the reaction (Cm,4n). The 3 s activity was later reassigned toNo, resulting from reaction (Cm,4n). It could however not be proved that it was not due to the contaminant Fm, unknown at the time. Later work in 1959 produced 8.3 MeV alpha particles with a half-life of 3 s and a 30% SF branch. This was initially assigned to No and later reassigned to No, resulting from reaction with the Cm component in the target. The reaction was restudied in 1967 at the LBNL and a new activity assigned to No was measured.

Cf(C,αxn)No (x=3?)

This reaction was studied at the LBNL in 1961 as part of their search for element 104. They detected 8.2 MeV alpha particles with a half-life of 15 s. This activity was assigned to a Z=102 isotope. Later work suggests an assignment to No, resulting most likely from the α3n channel with the Cf component of the californium target.

Cf(B,pxn)No (x=5?)

This reaction was studied at the LBNL in 1961 as part of their search for element 103. They detected 8.2 MeV alpha particles with a half-life of 15 s. This activity was assigned to a Z=102 isotope. Later work suggests an assignment to No, resulting most likely from the p5n channel with the Cf component of the californium target.

Cf(C,αxn)No (x=2)

This reaction was first studied in 1970 at the LBNL in a study of No. It was studied in 1971 at the Oak Ridge Laboratory. They were able to measure coincident Z=100 K X-rays from No, confirming the discovery of the element.

As decay products

Isotopes of nobelium have also been identified in the decay of heavier elements. Observations to date are summarised in the table below:

Isotopes

Twelve radioisotopes of nobelium have been characterized, with the most stable being No with a half-life of 58 minutes. Longer half-lives are expected for the as-yet-unknown No and No. An isomeric level has been found in No and K-isomers have been found in No, No and No to date.

Chronology of isotope discovery

Nuclear isomerism

No

The study of K-isomerism was recently studied by physicists at the University of Jyväskylä physics laboratory (JYFL). They were able to confirm a previously reported K-isomer and detected a second K-isomer. They assigned spins and parities of 8 and 16 to the two K-isomers.

No

In 1971, Bemis et al. was able to determine an isomeric level decaying with a half-life of 31 s from the decay of Rf. This was confirmed in 2003 at the GSI by also studying the decay of Rf. Further support in the same year from the FLNR appeared with a slightly higher half-life of 43.5 s, decaying by M2 gamma emission to the ground state.

No

In a recent study by the GSI into K-isomerism in even-even isotopes, a K-isomer with a half-life of 110 ms was detected for No. A spin and parity of 8 was assigned to the isomer.

No

In 2003, scientists at the FLNR reported that they had been able to synthesise No, which decayed by SF with a half-life of 54 μs. Further work in 2006 by scientists at the ANL showed that the activity was actually due to a K-isomer in No. The ground state isomer was also detected with a very short half-life of 3.7 μs.

Chemical yields of isotopes

Cold fusion

The table below provides cross-sections and excitation energies for cold fusion reactions producing nobelium isotopes directly. Data in bold represents maxima derived from excitation function measurements. + represents an observed exit channel.

Hot fusion

The table below provides cross-sections and excitation energies for hot fusion reactions producing nobelium isotopes directly. Data in bold represents maxima derived from excitation function measurements. + represents an observed exit channel.

Retracted isotopes

In 2003, scientists at the FLNR claimed to have discovered No, which would have been the lightest known isotope of nobelium. However, subsequent work showed that the 54 μs fission activity instead originated from an excited state of No. The discovery of this isotope was later reported in 2020; its decay properties differed from the 2003 claims.

References

1. ^ Kondev, F. G.; Wang, M.; Huang, W. J.; Naimi, S.; Audi, G. (2021). "The NUBASE2020 evaluation of nuclear properties" (PDF). Chinese Physics C. 45 (3): 030001. doi:10.1088/1674-1137/abddae.
2. ^ Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, 2020 (PDF) (Report). 23 June 2021. pp. 117–118. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
3. Tezekbayeva, M. S.; Yeremin, A. V.; Svirikhin, A. I.; et al. (2022). "Study of the production and decay properties of neutron-deficient nobelium isotopes". The European Physical Journal A. 58 (52): 52. arXiv:2203.15659. Bibcode:2022EPJA...58...52T. doi:10.1140/epja/s10050-022-00707-9. S2CID 247720708.
4. Khuyagbaatar, J.; Brand, H.; Düllmann, Ch. E.; Heßberger, F. P.; Jäger, E.; Kindler, B.; Krier, J.; Kurz, N.; Lommel, B.; Nechiporenko, Yu.; Novikov, Yu. N.; Schausten, B.; Yakushev, A. (5 August 2022). "Search for fission from a long-lived isomer in 250No and evidence of a second isomer". Physical Review C. 106 (2): 024309. Bibcode:2022PhRvC.106b4309K. doi:10.1103/PhysRevC.106.024309. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
5. ^ Heßberger, F. P.; Hofmann, S.; Ackermann, D.; et al. (1 December 2006). "Alpha-gamma decay studies of 255Rf, 251No and 247Fm". The European Physical Journal A - Hadrons and Nuclei. 30 (3): 561–569. Bibcode:2006EPJA...30..561H. doi:10.1140/epja/i2006-10137-2. ISSN 1434-601X. S2CID 123871572.
6. Kaleja, O.; Anđelić, B.; Bezrodnova, O.; et al. (2022). "Direct high-precision mass spectrometry of superheavy elements with SHIPTRAP". Physical Review C. 106 (5): 054325. Bibcode:2022PhRvC.106e4325K. doi:10.1103/PhysRevC.106.054325. hdl:10481/79072. S2CID 254365259.
7. Brankica Anđelić (2021). Direct mass measurements of No, Lr and Rf isotopes with SHIPTRAP and developments for chemical isobaric separation (PhD thesis). University of Groningen. doi:10.33612/diss.173546003.
8. Sulignano, Barbara. Search for K isomers in No and Sg and investigation of their nuclear structure (Thesis). Retrieved 4 July 2023.
9. Bronis, A.; Heßberger, F. P.; Antalic, S.; et al. (5 July 2022). "Decay studies of new isomeric states in 255No" (PDF). Physical Review C. 106 (1): 014602. Bibcode:2022PhRvC.106a4602B. doi:10.1103/PhysRevC.106.014602.
10. Hoffman, D. C.; Lee, D. M.; Gregorich, K. E.; et al. (1 February 1990). "Spontaneous fission properties of 2.9-s 256No". Physical Review C. 41 (2): 631–639. Bibcode:1990PhRvC..41..631H. doi:10.1103/PhysRevC.41.631. PMID 9966395.
11. Kessaci, K.; Gall, B. J. P.; Dorvaux, O.; et al. (11 October 2021). "Evidence of high-K isomerism in
    ₁₀₂No
    ₁₅₄". Physical Review C. 104 (4): 044609. doi:10.1103/PhysRevC.104.044609. S2CID 240669370.
12. Asai, M.; Tsukada, K.; Sakama, M.; et al. (2 September 2005). "Experimental Identification of Spin-Parities and Single-Particle Configurations in 257No and Its α-Decay Daughter Fm". Physical Review Letters. 95 (10): 102502. Bibcode:2005PhRvL..95j2502A. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.95.102502. PMID 16196924.
13. "Table of Isotopes decay data".
14. Belozerov, A. V.; Chelnokov, M.L.; Chepigin, V.I.; Drobina, T.P.; Gorshkov, V.A.; Kabachenko, A.P.; Malyshev, O.N.; Merkin, I.M.; Oganessian, Yu.Ts.; et al. (2003). "Spontaneous-fission decay properties and production cross-sections for the neutron-deficient nobelium isotopes formed in the Ca + Pb reactions". European Physical Journal A. 16 (4): 447–456. Bibcode:2003EPJA...16..447B. doi:10.1140/epja/i2002-10109-6. S2CID 120538375.
15. ^ Peterson, D.; Back, B. B.; Janssens, R. V. F.; et al. (2006). "Decay modes of No". Physical Review C. 74 (014316). arXiv:nucl-ex/0604005. Bibcode:2006PhRvC..74a4316P. doi:10.1103/PhysRevC.74.014316. S2CID 117045537.

• Isotope masses from:
  • M. Wang; G. Audi; A. H. Wapstra; F. G. Kondev; M. MacCormick; X. Xu; et al. (2012). "The AME2012 atomic mass evaluation (II). Tables, graphs and references" (PDF). Chinese Physics C. 36 (12): 1603–2014. Bibcode:2012ChPhC..36....3M. doi:10.1088/1674-1137/36/12/003. hdl:11858/00-001M-0000-0010-23E8-5. S2CID 250839471.
  • Audi, Georges; Bersillon, Olivier; Blachot, Jean; Wapstra, Aaldert Hendrik (2003), "The NUBASE evaluation of nuclear and decay properties", Nuclear Physics A, 729: 3–128, Bibcode:2003NuPhA.729....3A, doi:10.1016/j.nuclphysa.2003.11.001
• Half-life, spin, and isomer data selected from the following sources.
  • Audi, Georges; Bersillon, Olivier; Blachot, Jean; Wapstra, Aaldert Hendrik (2003), "The NUBASE evaluation of nuclear and decay properties", Nuclear Physics A, 729: 3–128, Bibcode:2003NuPhA.729....3A, doi:10.1016/j.nuclphysa.2003.11.001
  • National Nuclear Data Center. "NuDat 2.x database". Brookhaven National Laboratory.
  • Holden, Norman E. (2004). "11. Table of the Isotopes". In Lide, David R. (ed.). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (85th ed.). Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press. ISBN 978-0-8493-0485-9.

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Table of nuclides Categories: Isotopes Tables of nuclides Metastable isotopes Isotopes by element

• Isotopes of nobelium
• Nobelium
• Lists of isotopes by element