Influence of higher-order deformations in the ³⁴S + ¹⁶⁸Er fusion reaction

The shape of the measured barrier distribution for the ^{34}S + ^{168}Er reaction is analysed using the coupled-channels description. The ^{168}Er nucleus is a good candidate to test current fusion models description of deformation since it has a large quadrupole deformation with an insignificant hexadecapole deformation. Coupling to weaker channels, the 2^+_1 state in ^{34}S, the 3^-_1 state in ^{168}Er, and the pair neutron transfer channel, all were found to have little influence on the barrier distribution. A successful description of the barrier distribution was only obtained after the hexacontatetrapole deformation term in ^{168}Er (beta_6) was included in the coupling scheme. However, a positive value for beta_6 was needed where the macroscopic-microscopic model predicts a negative one.