Systematics of Isotope Production with Radioactive Beams

Extending the field of spectroscopy to very neutron-rich heavy nuclei has been impaired by reaction $Q$ values that consistently favor the formation of the lighter isotopes. Radioactive beams offer a chance to overcome this difficulty. We carry out a systematic study of cross sections for multinucleon transfer processes in order to determine the actual neutron excess in the projectiles that is needed to revert the aforementioned tendency. This identification, supplemented by quantitative predictions for the production yields, provide concrete guidelines for the selection of reaction partners and bombarding conditions.