Investigation of the use of an α + Xn reaction channel to enhance the population of superdeformed states in 193Hg and 195Hg

A study was made to determine whether the population of superdeformed states in 193Hg and 195Hg can be enhanced by using reactions in which alpha particles are emitted. The search utilized a 184W(18O,α Xn) reaction at 115 and 120 MeV for the 193Hg study and a 186W(18O,α Xn) reaction at 105 and 110 MeV for the 195Hg study. Two known superdeformed states of 193Hg were observed. The intensities of the superdeformed states in 193Hg populated by a reaction involving the emission of an alpha particle were found to be reduced by at least a factor of four relative to the intensities of these states produced in reactions involving only the emission of neutrons and γ-rays. No rotational bands built on superdeformed states in 195Hg with transition intensities >0.8% of the total 195Hg yield were found. Evidence is shown that the energy of the alpha particle that is associated with superdeformed states may be lower than that of alpha particles associated with normally deformed states. (author)