Study of Excited States ofO14by a Particle-Particle Angular-Correlation Technique

Excited states of ${}_{}{}^{14}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$ have been investigated with the ${}_{}{}^{12}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{C}({}_{}{}^3{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{He}, n){}_{}{}^{14}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}\mathrm{}\left(p\right)\mathrm{}{}_{}{}^{13}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{N}$ reaction at an incident-beam energy of 12 MeV. Proton groups corresponding to ${}_{}{}^{14}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$ excited states were observed in time coincidence with the associated neutrons detected at ${\theta }_n=0\mathrm{}°$. The natural widths of these states (or limits thereof) were obtained directly from the proton spectrum. Angular-correlation data obtained for these proton groups were analyzed according to a general formalism which allows channel spin as well as orbital angular momentum mixing in the ${}_{}{}^{14}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}\to {}_{}{}^{13}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{N}+p$ exit channel. These analyses yield the following spin and width limitations: [$E_x$ (MeV), $J$, $\Gamma$ (keV)]; 5.91, 0 or 1, ≤47; 6.29, 2 or 3, 103±6; 6.59, 2, ≤56; and 7.78, 1, 2 or 3, 76±10. The apparent dominance of a direct-transfer mechanism for the population of these states permits further spin and parity restrictions. Information regarding the wave-function configurations for these states is discussed on the basis of the observed proton decay. Of particular interest is the observance of an $f$-wave component in the proton decay of the 6.59-MeV state which implies an $s^4{p}^8$ ($p, f$) component in the wave function of that state.