Data on 800 MeV polarized proton scattering on ${}_{}{}^{24}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Mg}$ and ${}_{}{}^{26}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Mg}$ are presented. Angular distributions and analyzing power data have been extracted from fits to 26 peaks in the spectra for ${}_{}{}^{24}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Mg}$ and 23 peaks in ${}_{}{}^{26}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Mg}$. Although there are a variety of shapes for the angular distributions, the analyzing power data for all states are positive and similar in magnitude and seem to be consistent with a two-body operator for the excitation with a spin structure much like that for the free proton-nucleon system. Evidence for a level in ${}_{}{}^{26}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Mg}$ at 8.03 MeV with J>4 is presented. Comparison between the observed angular distribution, coupled channels, and distorted wave Born approximation calculations, and the angular distributions of excited states in neighboring nuclei, support the assignment of $J^{\pi }$${=5\mathrm{}}^{\mathrm{-}}$ or $6^{+}$. Coupled channels calculations for the $0^{+}$, $2^{+}$, $4^{+}$,${\mathrm{and}6}^{+}$ members of the ground state rotational bands of ${}_{}{}^{24}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Mg}$ and ${}_{}{}^{26}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Mg}$ are compared to the data. Deformation parameters from distorted wave Born approximation calculations are determined for most of the angular distributions.

• Received 28 September 1987

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.37.1987