Enhancement of Superdeformed Band Population in 135Nd

It is proposed that the differences in superdeformed band population observed in recent experiments result from a modification of the compound-nucleus angular momentum distribution due to the presence of low-lying vibrational states in the projectile and/or target nuclei. To test this hypothesis the nucleus 135Nd was studied with the reactions 74Ge+64Ni and 26Mg+112Cd. The 74Ge-induced reaction was found to preferentially populate high-spin states, including superdeformed states. Statistical-model calculations are consistent with the present observations provided coupled-channel effects are taken into account.