Structure and formation of molecules

In the first part of my talk I discuss some details of a calculation that Chandra and myself did some years ago and that predicted the existence of special shape-isomeric states all the way out to the nucleus-nucleus configuration. I then briefly discuss the dynamical conditions for formation of such a state. The strong interactions needed have consequences for angular momentum-energy mismatched channels that will be discussed next. Finally follows a discussion of the influence of strongly coupled direct excitations of the heavy ion optical potential. (orig./HSI)