The evolution from quasi-elastic to deep inelastic processes and its connection to fusion

Abstract

Substantial experimental and theoretical efforts have been made in the last decade to study into detail the transition from quasi-elastic to deep inelastic processes in heavy ion collisions. The understanding of this transition is relevant not only to probe which degrees of freedom play a role in the multinucleon transfer process but also for its connection with near barrier fusion reactions. A boost in the field has been given with the implementation of large solid angle magnetic spectrometers coupled to γ arrays with which extensive investigations have been carried out for nuclear structure and reaction dynamics. In the present paper aspects of these studies will be presented, with emphasis on processes undergoing significant energy loss in binary collisions.