Production of neutron-rich isotopes in reactions at beam energies well above the Coulomb Barrier*

An experiment with a 48Ca beam at an energy of 320 MeV ($\sim$100\% above the Coulomb barrier) has been carried out in inverse kinematics on a 0.5 mg/cm$^2$ 26Mg target at Gammasphere. This experiment is a first attempt to extend the reach of complex reactions in producing neutron-rich nuclei beyond the technique of using deep inelastic reactions on a thick target at 25\% above the Coulomb barrier. The main purpose of the experiment was to explore the isotopic production of neutron-rich nuclei above doubly-magic 48Ca nucleus, as well as in the region around the target. The systematics of isotopic yields at these energies can be anticipated from Q-value arguments in the form proposed in Ref. [1]. The reaction yields will be presented. The quality of the gamma spectra from this measurement with a thin target was assessed with known isotopes. [1] A.Y. Abul-Magd et al., Phys. Lett. B 39, 166(1973).