Light particle emission in 35Cl+24Mg fusion reactions at high excitation energy and angular momentum

In-plane and out-of-plane correlations of light charged particles and neutrons emitted in the 35Cl (260 MeV)+24Mg complete fusion reaction have been measured to investigate deformation and angular momentum effects upon the decay of 59Cu compound nucleus. An array of 21 BaF2 crystals has been used to identify the light charged particles (Z≤4) and neutrons emitted in coincidence with heavy fragments (Z≥5) detected in six ionization chamber telescopes. Coincident energy spectra and angular distributions of neutrons, protons, and α-particles have been described by the statistical-model calculations with nuclear level densities tuned to take account of deformation effects in the emitters. This spin-dependent approach suggests the onset of large nuclear deformation in 59Cu at high spin. This conclusion is consistent with the recent observation of a superdeformed band in the 59Cu nucleus