The mechanism of inelastic diffraction scattering, introduced by Drozdov and Inopin to discuss scattering from nuclei with quadrupole surface deformation, has been extended for scattering amplitude linear in the deformation to arbitrary multipolarity. The resulting angular distributions and gamma-ray angular correlations correspond closely to Born approximation predictions. The model provides a natural explanation for why the inelastic angular distributions of strongly absorbed projectiles are characterized by sharp and persistent oscillations. Comparison is made to observed inelastic scattering of alpha particles and deuterons by light nuclei. Large quadrupole deformations are indicated in many nuclei. The systematic appearance in $4n$ nuclei of states corresponding to octupole excitation is noted.

• Received 30 March 1959

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.115.928