2 - State at 8.87 Mev inO16

The bombardment of ${\mathrm{F}}^{19}$ by protons of energy greater than 3 Mev, and the beta decay of ${\mathrm{N}}^{16}$ are shown to give rise to gamma rays of energies 2.75±0.02 Mev, 1.90±0.03 Mev, and 1.72±0.03 Mev. The first of these gamma rays is in coincidence with gamma rays of 6.1 Mev while the latter two are in coincidence with gamma rays of greater than 6.3 Mev. The relative intensities are in the ratio of 27: 1: 3, respectively. These observations imply a state at 8.87±0.02 Mev in ${\mathrm{O}}^{16}$ formed in the reactions ${\mathrm{F}}^{19}(p, \alpha ){\mathrm{O}}^{16}$ and ${\mathrm{N}}^{16}\left({\beta }^{-}\right){\mathrm{O}}^{16}$; this state is very probably 2-. The relevance of this observation for the alpha-particle model of ${\mathrm{O}}^{16}$ is discussed.