Incomplete fusion analysis of the 7Li-induced reaction on 93Nb within 3-6.5 MeV/nucleon

Background: It is understood from the recent experimental studies that prompt/resonant breakup, and transfer followed by breakup in the weakly bound Li-6,Li-7-induced reactions play a significant role in the complete-incomplete fusion (CF-ICF), suppression/enhancement in the fusion cross section around the Coulomb barrier. Purpose: Investigation of ICF over CF by measuring cross sections of the populated residues, produced via different channels in the 7Li-induced reaction on a Nb-nat target within the 3-6.5 MeV/nucleon energy region. Method: The Li-7 beam was allowed to hit the self-supporting Nb-93 targets, backed by the aluminium (Al) foil alternately, within 3-6.5 MeV/nucleon energy. Populated residues were identified by offline gamma-ray spectrometry. Measured excitation functions of different channels were compared with different equilibrium and pre-equilibrium models. Result: The enhancement in cross sections in the proton (similar to 20-30 MeV) and a-emitting channels, which may be ascribed to ICF, was observed in the measured energy range when compared to the Hauser-Feshbach and exciton model calculations using EMPIRE, which satisfactorily reproduces the neutron channels, compared to the Weisskopf-Ewing model and hybrid Monte Carlo calculations. The increment of the incomplete fusion fraction was observed with rising projectile energy. Conclusion: Contrary to the ALICE14, experimental results are well reproduced by the EMPIRE throughout the measured energy range. The signature of ICF over CF indicates that the breakup/transfer processes are involved in the weakly bound 7Li-induced reaction on 93Nb slightly above the Coulomb barrier.