Entrance-channel potentials in the synthesis of the heaviest nuclei

Entrance-channel potentials in nucleus-nucleus collisions, relevant for the synthesis of superheavy elements, are systematically studied within a semi-microscopic approach, where microscopic nuclear densities of the colliding spherical or deformed nuclei are used in semi-classical expressions of the energy-density functional. From experimental data on fusion windows evidence is found that the existence of pockets in the entrance-channel potentials is crucial for fusion. Criteria for the choice of best collision systems for the synthesis of superheavy elements are discussed.