Fusion barrier distributions for heavy ion systems involving prolate and oblate target nuclei

Fusion excitation functions spanning the entire barrier region in 1 MeV energy steps for the two systems ⁴⁰Ca + ¹⁹²Os, ¹⁹⁴Pt are presented. The results of fission fragment angular distribution measurements for fusion-fission of ⁴⁰Ca + ¹⁹⁷Au at several projectile energies within the barrier region are also presented. The fusion data are of high enough precision to allow for extraction of the distribution of fusion barriers from the second differential of the product of E and σ. Basic coupled channels calculations which are in quite good agreement with the data are shown and discussed. © 1996 The American Physical Society.