Complete and incomplete fusion of an ${}^{16}\mathrm{O}$ projectile with an ${}^{115}\mathrm{In}$ target is studied. Forward recoil range distributions of several evaporation residues were measured at 105 MeV beam energy. The recoil catcher activation technique followed by offline gamma ray spectroscopy was used. The disentanglement of the complete and incomplete fusion processes was done in terms of full and partial linear momentum transfer from the projectile to the target nucleus. Results indicate the occurrence of incomplete fusion involving the breakup of ${}^{16}\mathrm{O}$ into ${}^4$He + ${}^{12}$C and/or ${}^8$Be + ${}^8$Be followed by fusion of one of the fragments with the target nucleus ${}^{115}\mathrm{In}$. The complete fusion contributions deduced from the recoil range distribution data were found to be consistent with the predictions of the theoretical model code pace4. An attempt was also made to separate out the relative contributions of complete and incomplete fusion components from the analysis of the measured recoil range distribution data. The study indicates that the incomplete fusion contribution increases with the projectile energy and the mass asymmetry of the interacting partners. The projectile structure effect also plays an important role in the underlying reaction dynamics.

• Received 13 February 2014
• Revised 30 March 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.89.054614