  A new model that includes the time-dependent dynamics of the single-particle
(s.p.) motion in conjunction with the macroscopic evolution of the system is
proposed for describing the compound nucleus (CN) formation in fusion of heavy
nuclei. The diabaticity initially keeps the entrance system around its contact
configuration, but the gradual transition from the diabatic to the adiabatic
potential energy surface (PES) leads to fusion or quasifission. Direct
measurements of the probability for CN formation are crucial to discriminate
between the current models.
