New Evidence for Near-Threshold 3/2⁺ States in ¹⁹Ne and Constraints on the ¹⁸F(p,α)¹⁵O Reaction Rate

Energy levels above the ¹⁸F+p threshold in ¹⁹Ne are significant for nova nucleosynthesis and the prospect of γ ray detection from novae because they are resonances in the ¹⁸F(p,α)¹⁵O reaction. In an effort to better understand the astrophysically important levels in ¹⁹Ne, the ¹⁹F(³He,t)¹⁹Ne reaction was studied. Particle-γ-γ coincidences were measured using GODDESS (Gammasphere ORRUBA: Dual Detectors for Experimental Structure Studies), which allows for nuclear structure studies with high angular coverage and resolution, in addition to good energy resolution. Reaction tritons were detected in the Oak Ridge Rutgers University Barrel Array (ORRUBA), an array of position-sensitive silicon strip detectors, in coincidence with γ rays from the de-excitation of ¹⁹Ne. Preliminary results from the experiment will be presented.