²¹Ne level structure in the resonance ¹⁷O+α elastic scattering

Abstract

The first study of resonances in ¹⁷O+α elastic scattering was carried out using the Thick Target Inverse Kinematics (TTIK) method. The data were analyzed in the framework of an R-matrix approach. Many α-cluster states were found in the ²¹Ne excitation region of 9–13 MeV excitation energy including the first observation of a broad l = 0 state in an odd-even nucleus, which is likely the analog of the broad 0⁺ at ~8 MeV in ²⁰Ne. The observed structure in ²¹Ne appeared to be strikingly similar to that in ²⁰Ne populated in the resonance ¹⁶O+α scattering. The results are also useful for refinement of data on the ¹⁷O(α,n) reaction important for astrophysics.