Characteristics of Angular Momentum Relaxation inNe20+Er168Collisions at 13.5 MeV/u

The multiplicity, anisotropy, and circular polarization of the $\gamma$ radiation from 270-MeV ${}_{}{}^{20}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ne}$ + ${}_{}{}^{168}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Er}$ were measured in coincidence with the projectilelike fragments. The deduced angular momentum transfer in the deep-inelastic reaction component is rather small but can be understood, together with the fluctuations of the spin axis and the prevalence of negative-angle scattering, in terms of a frictional process in concurrence with breakup.