Total Angular Momentum Determinations from the (tpol,d) Reaction onNi58,64

The ($t_{\mathrm{pol}}$, $d$) reaction at 16 MeV has been used to determine the total angular momentum of levels in ${}_{}{}^{59}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ni}$ and ${}_{}{}^{65}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ni}$. This represents the first reported results of this reaction using a polarized triton beam. The data indicate distinct differences and advantages over ($d_{\mathrm{pol}}$,$p$) data at similar bombarding energies. The ($t_{\mathrm{pol}}$,$d$) reaction is used on ${}_{}{}^{58}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ni}$ to compare data with distorted-wave Bron-approximation predictions for known spin states and on ${}_{}{}^{64}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ni}$ to resolve an important controversy over spin values in ${}_{}{}^{65}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ni}$.