Decay of the 9.49-, 9.53-, and 9.60-MeV Levels ofO15

The ${\mathrm{N}}^{14}(p,\gamma ){\mathrm{O}}^{15}$ reaction has been studied for proton energies of from 1.85 to 2.60 MeV. Principal resonances occur at 2.352±0.005 and 2.480±0.005 MeV, corresponding to levels in ${\mathrm{O}}^{15}$ at 9.487 and 9.606 MeV. In addition, there is known to be a level of approximate width 300 keV at an energy of approximately 9.53 MeV. The decay of these levels has been studied using an anticoincidence-shielded NaI(Tl) spectrometer. Both of the sharp levels decay strongly to the ground state of ${\mathrm{O}}^{15}$, to the 5.24-MeV level, and weakly to the 6.18-MeV level. In addition, the 9.487-MeV level decays weakly to the 6.86- and 7.284-MeV levels. From the intensities and angular distributions of the ground-state transitions, it is concluded that the spin and parity of the 9.487-MeV level are ${\frac{5}{2}}^{-}$ and that those of the 9.606-MeV level are ${\frac{3}{2}}^{-}$. The broad 9.53-MeV level decays almost entirely to the ground state. A search for gamma radiation from the level in ${\mathrm{O}}^{15}$ reported at 9.67 MeV was unfruitful.