The total reaction cross section ${\sigma }_R$ for ${}_{}{}^{16}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$ + ${}_{}{}^{12}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{C}$ has been determined between 8.5 and 14 MeV (c.m.) from elastic data using the optical theorem. It exhibits the well-known ${}_{}{}^{16}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$ + ${}_{}{}^{12}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{C}$ resonances as pronounced structures. Elastic partial widths have been deduced from ${\sigma }_R$ for all resonances. Some of them represent a large fraction of the single particle width. This is a strong hint that the corresponding resonances have the structure of a dinuclear molecule.

NUCLEAR REACTIONS ${}_{}{}^{12}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{C}$(${}_{}{}^{16}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$,${}_{}{}^{16}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$), ${}_{}{}^{12}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{C}$(${}_{}{}^{16}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$,${}_{}{}^{12}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{C}$), $E=8.5-15\mathrm{}$ MeV (c.m.), $\Delta E=85\mathrm{}$ keV; measured $\sigma (\theta , E)$, deduced total reaction cross section and quasimolecular resonances and their elastic widths.

• Received 7 December 1981

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.27.578