Investigating 16O with the 15N(p,{\alpha})12C reaction

TL;DR

This study explores the excited states of the 16O nucleus via the 15N(p,α)12C reaction, revealing strong alpha decay signals and examining a potential 4-alpha cluster state at 15.1 MeV.

Contribution

It provides detailed experimental data on 16O excitation energies and decay channels, especially focusing on the 15.1 MeV cluster state, enhancing understanding of nuclear structure.

Findings

Strong alpha decay observed in ten known excited states.

Detailed analysis of the 15.1 MeV cluster state decay channels.

Identification of candidate 4-alpha cluster state at 15.1 MeV.

Abstract

The 16O nucleus was investigated through the 15N(p,{\alpha})12C reaction at excitation energies from Ex = 12 231 to 15 700 keV using proton beams from a 5 MeV Van de Graaff accelerator at beam energies of Ep = 331 to 3800 keV. Alpha decay from resonant states in 16O was strongly observed for ten known excited states in this region. The candidate 4-alpha cluster state at Ex = 15.1 MeV was investigated particularly intensely in order to understand its particle decay channels.