Angular momentum transfer and partition in the deep-inelastic reaction 664 MeV 84Kr + sup(nat)Ag

In- and out-of-plane angular distributions have been measured for sequential α-decay from target-like fragments produced in fully relaxed heavy-ion collisions. At angles equal to or larger than the target-recoil direction, the α-particle energy spectra are evaporation-like and the in-plane angular distributions are consistent with isotropy in the rest frame of the target recoil. The out-of-plane distributions exhibit an anisotropy of approximately two. Fragment spins were extracted from these distributions as a function of mass asymmetry. These spins are in agreement with those obtained from a simultaneous γ-ray multiplicity measurement. Both the fragment kinetic energies and intrinsic spins are consistent with rigid rotation of an intermediate complex consisting of two substantially deformed spheroids in near proximity. (orig.)