Level density of $^{60}$Ni from $^{59}$Co(d,n) and $^{58}$Fe($^{3}$He,n) reactions.*

The level density of $^{60}$Ni in the region below the particle separation energy has been obtained from neutron evaporation spectra measured in the $^{59}$Co(d,n) and $^{58}$Fe($^{3}$He,n) reactions at the Edwards Accelerator Laboratory at Ohio University. The main limitation of such a technique is an unknown distortion of the neutron spectra due to direct and pre-equilibrium reaction mechanisms. The purpose of this experiment was to measure the level density of $^{60}$Ni and estimate the contribution of the direct reaction mechanism, which is expected to be different for different incoming particles. The energy spectra and angular distribution of neutrons have been measured from both reactions. Both angular distributions exhibit a forward peaking shape due to the contribution from direct reaction mechanism The level density function has been extracted from neutron spectra taken from backward angles. The good statistics in the region of known discrete levels of residual $^{60}$Ni allowed one the absolute normalization of the obtained level density function. The level densities of $^{60}$Ni obtained from both reactions agree well, which indicates that the compound reaction is the major contribution to the differential reaction cross sections taken from backward angles. The Fermi-gas level density parameters have been obtained and compared to systematics.