Polarization in Heavy-Ion Inelastic Scattering in the Coulomb-Nuclear Interference Region

Abstract

The polarization in the region of Coulomb-nuclear interference has been determined from the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray correlation following excitation of the 856-keV ${2}^{+}$ state in $^{56}\mathrm{Fe}$ by 43-MeV $^{16}\mathrm{O}$ ions. Elastic and inelastic scattering cross sections were also measured. Dramatic interference effects are observed in the transition amplitudes which can be reproduced by coupled-channel distorted-wave calculations.