Beta Decay ofN17

The delayed-neutron and $\gamma$-ray spectra following the $\beta$ decay of ${}_{}{}^{17}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{N}$ have been investigated using the $\beta -n$ time-of-flight method, $\beta -\gamma$ coincidences, and neutron spectrometry. The following branchings have been determined for the $\gamma$ decay of ${}_{}{}^{17}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{N}$ to established energy levels in ${}_{}{}^{17}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$: decay to ground state (1.7±0.5%), 0.87 MeV (2.9±0.5%), 3.06 MeV (0.54±0.08%), 4.55 MeV (37.9±1.8%), 5.377 MeV (51.1±1.5%), and 5.935 MeV (5.8±0.6%). The latter three states are particle unstable and decay by the emission of neutrons to the ground state of ${}_{}{}^{16}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$. The energies of these neutron groups as determined by us were, respectively, 0.385±0.004, 1.163±0.014, and 1.675±0.024 MeV. The results are discussed and compared to theoretical calculations. The measured $\beta$-decay strengths are compared to the strengths of corresponding transitions in the $\beta$ decay of the mirror nucleus ${}_{}{}^{17}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{Ne}$.