Shell Structure of the Superheavy Elements

Ground state properties of the superheavy elements (SHE) with Z from 108 to 128 and N from 150 to 192 are investigated using both the Skyrme-Hartree-Fock method with a density-independent contact pairing interaction and the macroscopic-microscopic approach with an average Woods-Saxon potential and a monopole pairing interaction. Detailed analysis of binding energies, separation energies, shell effects, single proton and neutron states, equilibrium deformations, alpha-decay energies, and other observables is given.