Radiative decay of neutron-unbound intruder states in 19O

Abstract:  The 9Be(14C, alpha gamma) reaction at E_lab = 30 and 35 MeV was used to study excited states of 19O. The Florida State University (FSU) gamma detector array was used to detect gamma radiation in coincidence with charged particles detected and identified with a silicon DeltaE-E particle telescope. Gamma decays have been observed for the first time from six states ranging from 368 to 2147 keV above the neutron separation energy in 19O. The gamma decaying states are interspersed among states previously observed to decay by neutron emission. The ability of electromagnetic decay to compete successfully with neutron decay is explained in terms of neutron angular momentum barriers and small spectroscopic factors implying higher spin and complex structure for these intruder states. These results illustrate the need for complementary experimental approaches to best illuminate the complete nuclear structure.