Fusion versus breakup: Observation of large fusion suppression for Be-9+Pb-208

Complete fusion excitation functions for Be-9 + Pb-208 have been measured t o high precision at near barrier energies. The experimental fusion barrier distribution extracted from these data allows reliable prediction of the ex pected complete fusion cross sections. However, the measured cross sections are only 68% of those predicted. The large cross sections observed for inc omplete fusion products support the interpretation that this suppression of fusion is caused by Be-9 breaking up into charged fragments before reachin g the fusion barrier. implications for the fusion of radioactive nuclei are discussed. [S0031-9007(99)08474-4].