Fusion of 6Li with 159Tb at near-barrier energies

Complete and incomplete fusion cross sections for 6Li + 159Tb have been measured at energies around the Coulomb barrier by the γ-ray method. The measurements show that the complete fusion cross sections at above-barrier energies are suppressed by ∼34% compared to coupled-channel calculations. A comparison of the complete fusion cross sections at above-barrier energies with the existing data for 11,10B + 159Tb and 7Li + 159Tb shows that the extent of suppression is correlated with the α separation energies of the projectiles. It has been argued that the Dy isotopes produced in the reaction 6Li + 159Tb at below-barrier energies are primarily due to the d transfer to unbound states of 159Tb, while both transfer and incomplete fusion processes contribute at above-barrier energies.