Effects of nuclear structure on average angular momentum in subbarrier fusion

Abstract

We investigate the effects of nuclear quadrupole and hexadecapole couplings on the average angular momentum in sub-barrier fusion reactions. This quantity could provide a probe for nuclear shapes, distinguishing between prolate vs. oblate quadrupole and positive vs. negative hexadecapole couplings. We describe the data in the O + Sm system and discuss heavier systems where shape effects become more pronounced.Comment: Latex (uses the epsf macro), 10 pages of text, 3 postscript figures included. Full postscript version available by anonymous ftp from wisnuf.physics.wisc.edu:/pub/preprints. MAD-NT-94-0