Neutron transfer reactions with very heavy ions

The authors have studied neutron transfer reactions induced by 132Xe on the three rare-earth targets, 154Sm, 171Yb, 176Yb, at a bombarding energy of approx.1.1 times the Coulomb barrier energy. There are a number of reasons why such reactions can be an interesting and attractive tool for nuclear physics. The Xe beam was provided by the LBL SuperHILAC and the targets were self-supporting metal foils of approx.0.5 mg/cm2. The experimental arrangement consisted of two moderate solid-angle position-sensitive gas avalanche detectors (PSAD) to detect the coincident projectile- and target-like products, while two Ge(Li) counters placed at 1800 to the PSADs were used to observe the γ rays emitted in the reaction. A particle-particle-γ coincidence was required as a master gate, and the authors were able to identify final products and states populated in the one- and two-neutron transfer reactions, as well as in inelastic excitation