Calculations of the real part of the heavy-ion potential have been performed for the systems ${}_{}{}^{12}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{C}$ + ${}_{}{}^{12}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{C}$, ${}_{}{}^{16}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$ + ${}_{}{}^{16}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$, and ${}_{}{}^{40}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ca}$ + ${}_{}{}^{40}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ca}$ using the Hartree-Fock method with a constraint on the center-of-mass distance. The interaction used is the Skyrme force SIII. For the case of ${}_{}{}^{16}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$ + ${}_{}{}^{16}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$ a detailed discussion of the nuclear structure with increasing overlap of the ions is given. It is found that the individual shell structures of the two ${}_{}{}^{16}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$ nuclei survive until the density in the neck region has reached about 50% of its maximum value. The calculated potentials have been used in an optical model code to calculate elastic excitation functions. The agreement with the empirically determined best fit potentials is remarkable.

NUCLEAR REACTIONS Self-consistent constrained Hartree-Fock calculations of HI potentials. Structure of ${}_{}{}^{16}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$ + ${}_{}{}^{16}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$ at large overlap; potentials calculated for ${}_{}{}^{12}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{C}$ + ${}_{}{}^{12}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{C}$, ${}_{}{}^{16}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$ + ${}_{}{}^{16}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$, ${}_{}{}^{40}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ca}$ + ${}_{}{}^{40}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ca}$; compared with experimental fits.

• Received 18 June 1976

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.14.1488