Scattering of 43-MeV Alpha Particles by the Titanium Isotopes

The elastic and inelastic scattering of 43-MeV $\alpha$ particles on isotopically enriched Ti targets has been measured. The results are analyzed by use of the distorted-wave theory and the collective model. The effect of the choice of different optical-model-potential parameters on the value of the deformation parameter $\beta$ is investigated and found to be small for reasonable values of the potential parameters. In the three even-$A$ isotopes, a number of $3^{-}$ and $4^{+}$ levels have been identified. The excitation mechanisms of the first $2^{+}$ and $4^{+}$ state are compared with the results of coupled-equation calculations and with the predictions of the shell model and the vibrational model.