Competition between a few nucleon emission and γ-deexcitation for the system 65Cu+87Rb→152Dy* at E*approximately54 MeV

To explore the statistical or non-statistical character of the emission of a few neutron emission (1 or 2n) by nuclei formed at high angular momenta (approximately 40h) and high excitation energy (approximately 54 MeV), experiments have been performed on the 65Cu(237 MeV) + 87Rb → 152Dy* system, to obtain information about the competition between γ and neutron deexcitation. This has been accomplished by determination of the γ entry-line position in the (E*,J) plane and by measurements of the total energy balance available in some of the xn emission processes. All the measurements (total gamma energy, multiplicity associated with each exit channel and neutron energy spectra) point out the statistical character of the few neutron emission which is related to the unexpectedly strong γ competition