Interplay of the elastic and inelastic channels in the ¹⁶O + ²⁷Al scattering at E_lab = 280 MeV

Recent data indicated a nuclear rainbow-like pattern in the elastic scattering of ¹⁶O + ²⁷Al at E_lab = 100 MeV that arises from couplings of the ground to the low-lying states of the ²⁷Al nucleus. Similar effect was identified in the elastic angular distribution of ¹⁶O + ¹²C at E_lab = 281 and 330 MeV. These experiments show a crucial role of microscopic details of nuclear structure in the elastic scattering of heavy ions at energies well above the Coulomb barrier. In this work we investigate the ¹⁶O + ²⁷Al system at E_lab = 280 MeV for which a coupled channel calculation predicts a pronounced nuclear rainbow-like structure. Obtained experimental data show evidences of an important coupling of the elastic channel to the inelastic. Coupled channel calculations reproduce the experimental angular distributions when a re-normalization factor on the real part of the optical potential is introduced. A proper theoretical approach still requires a high degree of accuracy for the nuclear structure models and new tools to deal with collective excitations. (orig.)