Low-energy intermediate mass fragments in the O16+12C reaction at 38 MeV/nucleon

The O-16 + C-12 reaction at an incident energy E/A of 38 MeV has been investigated experimentally. Singles energy spectra and the angular distribution of reaction residues having 3 less-than-or-equal-to Z less-than-or-equal-to 9 were measured. A small low-energy cutoff in the spectra combined with measurements at large angles (up to 70-degrees) allowed a study of the systematics involved in the production of low-energy reaction residues. A target-related origin is proposed for these yields. Cascade model calculations are presented which support this hypothesis.