Actinide production in reactions of heavy ions withCm248

Transfer reactions of heavy ions with ${}_{}{}^{248}{}_{}{}^{}$Cm targets are evaluated for their usefulness in producing unknown neutron-rich actinide nuclides. Cross sections for the production of nuclides in the region 91≤Z≤100 were determined radiochemically from bombardments with ${}_{}{}^{18}{}_{}{}^{}$O, ${\mathrm{}}^{86}$Kr, and ${}_{}{}^{136}{}_{}{}^{}$Xe ions. The systematic trends in the cross sections for these reactions can be understood in terms of the Coulomb potential and the stabilizing effect of the reaction Q values, which tend to favor the production of nuclei with Z>$Z_{\mathrm{target}}$ with low excitation energies. Extrapolation of the product yields into unknown regions of charge and mass indicates that the use of heavy-ion transfer reactions to produce new neutron-rich above-target species is limited. Substantial production of unknown neutron-rich below-target species is expected in reactions with heavy projectiles like ${}_{}{}^{136}{}_{}{}^{}$Xe and ${}_{}{}^{238}{}_{}{}^{}$U.