Investigation of incomplete fusion in 20Ne + 55Mn reactions at 3–8 MeV/nucleon

Abstract

The excitation functions of radio-nuclides have been measured for the 20Ne + 55Mn system in the energy range ≈51–164 MeV by employing the recoil catcher technique followed by off-line gamma-ray spectrometry. It has been observed that some of the residues produced directly via complete and/or incomplete fusion (ICF) give rise to independent yield while some of the residues are produced in the decay of higher charge precursor isobars through β+ and/or electron capture and give rise to cumulative yield. Independent yields of radio-nuclides 71, 70As, 69, 67Ge and 67, 66Ga have been separated out from the measured cumulative yields. The measured excitation functions are then compared with statistical model code PACE-2. It has been observed that excitation functions of the measured complete fusion channels are in good agreement with theoretical predictions. However, a significant enhancement in the measured excitation functions for the residues, produced in the break-up of the projectile into α-clusters, has been observed. This enhancement may be attributed to the ICF process. Moreover, ICF-fraction has also been calculated by dividing the ICF-cross-section to the total fusion cross-section and found to increase with the projectile energy as well as with the entrance channel mass-asymmetry of the interacting partners.