Microscopic study of heavy-particle transfer reactions: The (16O, α) reactions on 16O and 28Si

The transfer reactions ²⁸Si(¹⁶O, α)⁴⁰Ca and ¹⁶O(¹⁶O, α)²⁸Si have been studied within the framework of the two-channel generator coordinate method. The geometry of the reactions has been discussed in terms of the cross-channel overlap kernels of the generating functions. A clear connection between maxima in the reaction rate and entrance channel resonances has been established. A two-step reaction mechanism involving quasimolecular resonances of inelastic ¹⁶O-¹⁶O channels is discussed as a possible explanation for narrow structures seen in the ¹⁶O(¹⁶O, α)²⁸Si reaction cross section.