Within the framework of the modi¯ed density-dependent Seyler{Blanchard approach in the T 2 approximation, the polarization e®ects of hot nuclear matter (PEHNM) are investigated on the fusion process of 16 di®erent colliding systems in the mass range 96 Z1Z2 850. In order to calculate the nucleus{nucleus potential, we use the double-folding (DF) model supplemented with the thermal e®ects of compound nucleus and also a repulsive potential that takes into account the incompressibility of the nuclear matter. The calculations of the fusion cross-sections are performed based on the couplings to the low-lying 2þ and 3 vibrational states in both target and projectile. The sensitivity of sub-barrier fusion cross-sections to the polarization e®ects is evident from this study. The obtained results reveal that the modi¯ed form of the DF potential in the presence of the PEHNM appropriately reproduces the energy-dependent behavior of the experimental fusion cross-sections for the studied reactions. The role of the polarization e®ects on the fusion barriers as well as the inner part of the potential is also discussed

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