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How do particle accelerators help synthesize transuranium elements?

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A color-coded periodic table of the elements displays each element's symbol and atomic number, with categories such as alkali metals, noble gases, halogens, transition metals, and actinoid elements distinguished by different background colors. — transuranium element Modern version of the periodic table of the elements (printable).

Particle accelerators are essential tools for synthesizing transuranium elements because they provide the high-energy beams necessary to overcome the electrostatic repulsion between atomic nuclei, allowing them to fuse.12

Instead of relying on neutron capture—which is limited in the types of elements it can produce—scientists use accelerators to bombard heavy element targets with charged particles. The process involves:1

Light Charged Particles: Accelerators can fire particles such as helium nuclei (alpha particles) at heavy actinoid targets to induce nuclear fusion.1
Heavy Ions: For elements heavier than mendelevium, accelerators produce beams of heavy ions (particles with an atomic number greater than 2 and mass number greater than 5). These are used in "cold" or "hot" fusion reactions to create new, heavier nuclei.1
Fusion Reactions: In "cold" fusion, medium-weight projectiles are fused with targets near lead-208 to create a relatively stable compound system. "Hot" fusion involves colliding lighter projectiles with heavier actinoid targets, resulting in higher excitation energies.1

By precisely controlling these collisions, researchers can synthesize elements that do not occur naturally, expanding our understanding of the periodic table.13