ROTATING-LIQUID-DROP MODEL LIMIT TESTED ON MACROSCOPIC DROPS

The collisions of m = 0.3-2.0 g, v = 5-50 cm/s mercury drops are studi ed experimentally. A transition between a fusion and a nonfusion outco me is observed, and found to be influenced by angular momentum. The ma ss dependence measured for the limiting angular momentum L(c)(expt) is compared with predictions L(c)(theor) of a surface-potential model wi dely used in nuclear physics. A systematic L(c)(expt) less-than-or-equ al-to L(c)(theor) discrepancy is found in these and in other drop coll ision data. Dynamical considerations and the use of more elaborate sur face shapes than those assumed by the model are found to reduce the di sagreement.