Cluster emission amplification from nuclei at high angular momenta

Predictions for statistical decay of highly deformed nuclei using the Hauser-Feshbach formulation are presented including emission of clusters up to /sup 12/C. These calculations use the rotating liquid drop model to estimate deformation versus angular momentum. The algorithms used to compute transmission coefficients for spherical and for deformed nuclei are presented, as well as results for several sets of calculations for A = 56 and 148 compound nuclei. Several different formulations are explored for computing decay rates of deformed nuclei. Large cluster emission amplification is predicted when deformation is considered, with consequent decrease in first chance fission. Qualitative comparisons are made with some heavy ion experiments which are consistent with these predictions, and types of experiments to verify the new cluster decay amplification mechanism are suggested. It is pointed out that the phase space dependence on deformation may prove valuable in interpreting some nonequilibrium heavy ion reaction results.