Distribution of angular momentum transfers from ($p,d)$ and ($p,t)$ reactions in the high excitation energy continuum region of gadolinium nuclei

The structure of even and odd Gd nuclei at low/moderate spins and up to high excitation energies in the vicinity of the N $=$ 90 shape change region have been probed using the (p,t) and (p,d) reactions on even-even targets. The proton beam, at a beam energy of 25 MeV, was provided by the 88-Inch Cyclotron at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Outgoing charged particles, between $\sim$30 and 60 degrees, were detected by the STARS silicon telescope while coincident gamma-rays were detected with the clover Ge detectors of the Liberace Array. The measured angular distributions for outgoing deuterons and tritons are well reproduced by DWBA calculations for discrete low-lying states, whereas at higher excitations of (2 -- 9) MeV the angular momentum distribution of the continuum region should be represented by a distribution of L-transfer values. The angular distribution of the continuum region has been investigated in the present work$.$ Weighted linear combinations of calculated (DWBA) angular distributions for L-transfer values of $\Delta $L$=$0 to 6$\hbar $ are compared to the experimental angular distribution in a chi-square minimization technique to find the best fitting distribution of angular momentum transfers in gadolinium nuclei. Preliminary results will be presented.