In a search for high spin molecular states in ${}_{}{}^{36}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ar}$, the ${}_{}{}^{20}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ne}$${+}^{16}$O system was studied using a differentially pumped windowless ${}_{}{}^{20}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ne}$ gas target. Angle-averaged excitation functions for the ${}_{}{}^{20}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ne}$${+}^{16}$O and ${}_{}{}^{24}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Mg}$${+}^{12}$C mass partitions were obtained for the energy range 16.39 MeV ≤${\mathit{E}}_{\mathrm{c}.\mathrm{m}.\mathrm{}}$≤ 41.67 MeV in 278 keV steps. Inelastic scattering involving the ${}_{}{}^{16}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$($0_2^{+}$, 6.05 MeV) state was separated from the nearby ${}_{}{}^{16}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$($3_1^{\mathrm{-}}$, 6.13 MeV) state by detecting the ${\mathit{e}}^{\mathrm{-}}$ and ${\mathit{e}}^{+}$ emitted from the internal pair decay of the ${}_{}{}^{16}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$($0_2^{+}$) state. A statistical fluctuation analysis indicates that several correlated structures are present in the current system. Tentative spin assignments based on angular distribution measurements suggest the resonant structures could be associated with rotational states of ${}_{}{}^{36}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ar}$. The results are compared with a cranked cluster model calculation. © 1996 The American Physical Society.

• Received 6 October 1995

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.53.815