Physical basis for large forward cross sections in 60Ni(18O,16O) reaction

A physical process is shown that is capable of accounting for the large forward cross section in the experiment 60Ni(18O,16O)62Ni at an energy where one would normally expect a grazing peak with sharply falling cross sections on either side. This process consists of the inelastic excitation of the projectile 18O and 62Ni. The destructive interference of this process with the direct transfer causes a decrease of cross section in the region of the grazing angle where the two have comparable amplitudes. At angles forward of the grazing angle, the cross section is dominated by the second-order process, since its distribution is more forward biased and broader