Populating high spin states of a compound nucleus with the incomplete fusion mechanism: the effectiveness of heavy projectiles

Using a classical dynamical reaction model, angular momentum (L) values of a compound nucleus due to incomplete fusion (ICF) at energies near and above the Coulomb barrier are studied. In this model, a projectile consisting of two cluster nuclei is fired at a stationary target nucleus. After breakup of the projectile due to Coulombic and nuclear forces, an α-cluster fuses with a ²⁰⁸Pb target, forming an excited ²¹²Po compound nucleus. Results show that all ICF reactions produced higher angular momentum in the compound nucleus compared to a direct beam of α particles at the same incident energy. The highest angular momentum values produced in ²¹²Po for near and above Coulomb barrier energies were obtained using a ²⁰Ne projectile at $16\hslash$ and $40\hslash$, respectively. This produced 25% and 50% L values above the next highest-Z projectile used, ⁸Be, respectively. (paper)