During the last 18 years, six new elements have been discovered and confirmed and over 50
new isotopes have been synthesized in nuclear reactions using 48Ca beams and actinide targets
(237Np, 239;240;242;244Pu, 243Am, 245;248Cm, 249Bk, 249;251Cf.) This work has resulted in a wealth
of nuclear decay data and some nuclear structure information on the heaviest isotopes and decay
progeny which will be discussed. The extent of the region of enhanced stability near Z = 114 and
N = 184 is not completely known. To attempt to produce the heaviest isotopes of element 118,
new experiments were performed using 48Ca projectiles and a 251Cf (mixed isotope) target at the
Dubna Gas Filled Recoil Separator (DGFRS) located in the Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions
in Dubna. The probability that any observed decay chains are due to random events occurring
in the detectors or electronics rather than correlated decay chains, using the LLNL-developed
method of Monte Carlo Random Probability analysis will be discussed. This probability will be
discussed for recent 48Ca + 239;240Pu experiments in addition to the element 118 experiment and
will be compared with other techniques for estimating such probabilities in super heavy element
production reactions in which few decay chains are observed.