The ($t$,$\alpha$) reaction has been carried out on the actinide targets ${}_{}{}^{234}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{U}$ and ${}_{}{}^{244}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Pu}$ using a 17 MeV beam of 80% polarized tritons. The residual nucleus ${}_{}{}^{233}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Pa}$ has been previously studied and serves to calibrate the trends of the analyzing power for known spin states. Twenty-two energy levels were observed in ${}_{}{}^{243}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Np}$, a nucleus previously unreported, and a number of spin assignments are suggested. The observed analyzing powers are very similar to those previously measured in the lead nuclei, permitting the use of empirical spin determinations over a wide range of nuclei.

NUCLEAR REACTIONS ${}_{}{}^{234}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{U}$, ${}_{}{}^{244}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Pu}$ ($\overrightarrow{t}$,$\alpha$), $E_t=17\mathrm{}$ MeV; measured $\sigma (E_{\alpha },\theta )$, $A_y(E_{\alpha },\theta )$; enriched targets DWBA analysis.

• Received 15 May 1978

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.19.355