Investigation of the use of an alpha+Xn reaction channel to enhance the population of superdeformed states in Hg-193 and Hg-195

A study was made to determine whether the population of superdeformed state s in Hg-193 and Hg-195 can be enhanced by using reactions in which alpha pa rticles are emitted. The search utilized a W-184 (O-18, alpha Xn) reaction at 115 and 120MeV for the Hg-193 study and a W-186(O-18, alpha Xn) reaction at 105 and 110 MeV for the Hg-195 study. Two known superdeformed states of Hg-193 were observed. The intensities of the superdeformed states in Hg-19 3 populated by a reaction involving the emission of an alpha particle were found to be reduced by at least a factor of four relative to the intensitie s of these stares produced in reactions involving only the emission of neut rons and gamma -rays. No rotational bands built on superdeformed states in Hg-195 With transition intensities > 0.8% of the total 195Hg yield were fou nd. Evidence is shown that the energy of the alpha particle that is associa ted with superdeformed states may be lower than that of alpha particles ass ociated with normally deformed states.