Coupled reaction channels effects in the elastic scattering of sup 32,36 S+ sup 58,64 Ni

Elastic scattering angular distributions of {sup 32,36}S (beams)+{sup 58.64}Ni have been measured at several energies around the Coulomb barrier. An optical-model analysis of the data reveals remarkable energy dependences of the potentials at the strong absorption radii, in all cases. The largest effects are observed for {sup 32}S+{sup 64}Ni. This is due to the coupled reaction channels which also strongly influence the sub-barrier fusion cross sections. Coupled-channels calculations of elastic scattering and fusion have been performed, including the inelastic excitations of projectile and target; the need for considering additional (transfer) channels is made evident. We also have indications that sub-barrier fusion is not merely tunneling through a potential barrier, although energy dependent, as absorption into fusion takes place at larger internuclear distances. Older fusion and quasielastic transfer data are overviewed and compared with the reaction cross sections extracted from elastic scattering. Open questions still remain about the role of specific channels in determining the observed isotopic differences.