Molecular single-particle excitations in heavy-ion reactions involving deformed light nuclei

Two-center level diagrams for the neutron orbitals in the scattering of ¹⁶O on ²⁵Mg and of ¹⁷O on ²⁴Mg are calculated by using a deformed potential for 24,25Mg. Possible consequences of the nuclear Landau-Zener mechanism, namely the promotion of nucleons at avoided level crossings, and of the rotational coupling between crossing molecular single-particle orbitals are studied for inelastic excitation and neutron transfer. The important excitation and transfer processes, which are enhanced by the promotion process and the rotational coupling, are presented.NUCLEAR REACTIONS Heavy ion scattering, theory of nucleon transfer, molecular wave functions, asymmetric two center shell model, single particle excitation, deformed nuclei.