Intrinsic fragment spins generated in the reactions of ²⁰Ne with ¹⁹⁷Au and ²³⁸U at 12.6 MeV/nucleon

The average magnitude and alignment of the intrinsic spin of the heavy partner from the reaction of 252 MeV ²⁰Ne with ¹⁹⁷Au and ²³⁸U were determined as a function of Q-value. These spin values were extracted from sequential fission angular distributions obtained in coincidence with projectile-like products. For all Q-values a large out-of-plane anisotropy was observed, while for large negative Q-values an in-plane anisotropy was observed. A very large entrance-channel mass-asymmetry was chosen to provide a stringent test of equilibrium statistical model predictions for the spin alignment. The importance of determining the direction of the line-of-centers of the dinuclear system at scission is discussed. Large values of P_ZZ were deduced for all Q- values. P_XY was observed to be positive in the quasielastic region and negative in the deep-inelastic region. The extracted alignment data are compared to equilibrium statistical model calculations.