Determination of 1p- and 2p-stripping excitation functions for $$^{16}$$O+$$^{142}$$Ce using a recoil mass spectrometer

We report the first direct measurement of differential transfer cross sections using a Recoil Mass Spectrometer. Absolute 1p- and 2p-stripping at $$\theta _\mathrm {c.m.}=180^\circ $$ have been determined for system $$^{16}$$ O+ $$^{142}$$ Ce by detecting heavier target-like ions focal plane Heavy Ion Reaction Analyzer. Focal spectra compared with results semi-microscopic Monte-Carlo simulation to unambiguously identify channels. The methodology adopted in this work can be applied measure multi-nucleon other similar recoil separators. experimental excitation functions reactions $$^{142}\mathrm {Ce(}^{16}\textrm{O,}^{15}\mathrm {N)}^{143}\textrm{Pr}$$ {Ce(}^{16}\textrm{O,}^{14}\mathrm {C)}^{144}\textrm{Nd}$$ coupled reaction channels calculations. Shell model calculations performed extract spectroscopic information nuclei. An excellent matching between theory has obtained 1p-stripping. For 2p-stripping, cluster two protons found dominant contribution. Measured probabilities Time-Dependent Hartree–Fock Proton stripping are more favourable neutron pick-up However, overpredicts hinting need extended approaches explicit treatment pairing correlations