Understanding the limits of existence of the nucleus, especially concerning its mass limit, is one of the major fields of research in contemporary nuclear physics. In the region of heavy nuclei, neutron-deficient actinides are of particular interest. Indeed, pronounced octupole (pear-shaped) deformations are predicted and have even been observed in some nuclei. The aim of this thesis is to study these octupole deformed nuclei using the new-generation detector SEASON, whose detection efficiency and energy resolution are unprecedented for this type of experiment. The thesis work will focus on the installation, testing, experimental data-taking and analysis from an experiment to be carried out in 2025 at the University of Jyväskylä. In this experiment, the proton-induced fusion-evaporation reaction 232Th(p,X)Y will be used to populate neutron-deficient actinide isotopes, whose decay products will be analyzed using SEASON. The thesis will be in cotutelle with the University of Jyväskylä and divided into two parts:
i) a 1-year period at the University of Jyväskylä, during which the experiment will take place
ii) the following two years at CEA Saclay will be devoted to data analysis and preparation of the experimental program with SEASON at the new facility S3-LEB at GANIL-SPIRAL2.