In-plane and out-of-plane correlations of light charged particles and neutrons emitted in the ${}^{35}\mathrm{Cl}\left(260\text{MeV}\right)+{}^{24}\mathrm{Mg}$ complete fusion reaction have been measured to investigate deformation and angular momentum effects upon the decay of ${}^{59}\mathrm{Cu}$ compound nucleus. An array of $21{\text{BaF}}_2$ crystals has been used to identify the light charged particles $\left(Z⩽4\right)$ and neutrons emitted in coincidence with heavy fragments $\left(Z⩾5\right)$ detected in six ionization chamber telescopes. Coincident energy spectra and angular distributions of neutrons, protons, and $\alpha$-particles have been described by the statistical-model calculations with nuclear level densities tuned to take account of deformation effects in the emitters. This spin-dependent approach suggests the onset of large nuclear deformation in ${}^{59}\mathrm{Cu}$ at high spin. This conclusion is consistent with the recent observation of a superdeformed band in the ${}^{59}\mathrm{Cu}$ nucleus.

• Received 28 August 2003

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.69.034616