Decay patterns of dysprosium nuclei produced in [sup 32]S+[sup 118,124]Sn fusion reactions

Multiplicity distributions of neutrons and energy spectra of light charged particles have been measured in coincidence with evaporation residues from the [sup 32]S+[sup 118,124]Sn fusion reactions at [ital E][sub lab]=130--180 MeV. The experimental data are found to be in agreement with the results of statistical-model calculations, provided [ital a]=[ital A]/12 MeV[sup [minus]1] is assumed for the effective level-density parameter for all nuclides in the decay path. Simulation calculations have further shown that such a low value of the level-density parameter cannot be explained as a result of a possible population of superdeformed bands, unaccounted for by the statistical-decay code.