Two-center level diagrams for the neutron orbitals in the scattering of ${}_{}{}^{16}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$ on ${}_{}{}^{25}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Mg}$ and of ${}_{}{}^{17}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$ on ${}_{}{}^{24}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Mg}$ are calculated by using a deformed potential for ${}_{}{}^{24,25}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Mg}$. Possible consequences of the nuclear Landau-Zener mechanism, namely the promotion of nucleons at avoided level crossings, and of the rotational coupling between crossing molecular single-particle orbitals are studied for inelastic excitation and neutron transfer. The important excitation and transfer processes, which are enhanced by the promotion process and the rotational coupling, are presented.

NUCLEAR REACTIONS Heavy ion scattering, theory of nucleon transfer, molecular wave functions, asymmetric two center shell model, single particle excitation, deformed nuclei.

• Received 9 October 1981

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.25.1902