Quantum effects in the diffusion process to form a heavy nucleus in heavy-ion fusion reactions

We discuss quantum effects in the diffusion process which is used to describe the shape evolution from the touching configuration of fusing two nuclei to a compound nucleus. Applying the theory with quantum effects to the case where the potential field, the mass and friction parameters are adapted to realistic values of heavy‐ion collisions, we show that the quantum effects play significant roles at low temperatures which are relevant to the synthesis of superheavy elements.