Yrast states up to spin $16ħ$ in ${}^{166}\mathrm{Dy}$ were observed, for the first time, using a quasielastic neutron-transfer reaction in the bombardment of ${}^{118}\mathrm{Sn}$ with ${}^{164}\mathrm{Dy}$ at $E_{\mathrm{lab}}=790\mathrm{}$ MeV. The ratio of the ${}^{166}\mathrm{Dy}$ production cross section relative to the inelastic cross section, integrated over the c.m. scattering angle range $110°$ to $140°$, is $\approx 0.0027$. This experiment demonstrates that the improved sensitivity, provided by the new generation of highly segmented $4\pi$ $\gamma$-ray arrays coupled to a $4\pi$ heavy-ion detector array, makes subbarrier heavy-ion-induced nucleon-transfer reactions a powerful probe of the structure of neutron-rich nuclei at moderately high spin. A comparison with the production of ${}^{164}\mathrm{Dy}$ in the reaction between ${}^{118}\mathrm{Sn}$ and ${}^{162}\mathrm{Dy}$ is made.

• Received 21 January 1998

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.57.3466