We study the effect of the elastic transfer process on sub-barrier fusion reactions between similar nuclei. The coupling to the elastic transfer channel is described in terms of a parity dependent potential, directly obtained from the transfer form factor. Within the simple barrier penetration model, we find that this effect can account for a considerable part of the sub-barrier enhancement of the ${}_{}{}^{16}{}_{}{}^{}$O${+\mathrm{}}^{18}$O fusion cross section over the ${}_{}{}^{16}{}_{}{}^{}$O${+\mathrm{}}^{16}$O case.

• Received 31 March 1986

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.35.367