Interplay of initial deformation and Coulomb proximity on nuclear decay

Alpha particles emitted from an excited projectilelike fragment (PLF*) formed in a peripheral collision of two intermediate-energy heavy ions exhibit a strong preference for emission towards the targetlike fragment. The interplay of the initial deformation of the PLF* caused by the reaction, Coulomb proximity, and the rotation of the PLF* results in the observed anisotropic angular distribution. Changes in the shape of the angular distribution with excitation energy are interpreted as being the result of forming more elongated initial geometries in the more peripheral collisions.