The potential for using deep inelastic reactions to populate high-spin states in neutron-rich nuclei is studied in a series of experiments using GAMMASPHERE for $\gamma$-ray detection and a silicon strip detector for measuring the angles of projectilelike and targetlike fragments. In three experiments 61 new transitions up to a maximum spin of 22$ħ$ in 12 neutron-rich rare-earth nuclei were found. We observe that $\gamma$-ray yields as a function of spin are flatter for all neutron transfer products than for inelastic excitation of either the projectile or target nucleus. Calculations are presented which indicate that this difference cannot be accounted for by quasielastic processes, but more likely are the result of larger energy loss processes, such as deep inelastic reactions.

• Received 15 April 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.60.044307