Evidence For A Molecular Rotational Band In The C-14+Alpha Decay Of O-18 And The Alpha Decay Of Ne-22

The C-14+alpha decay of O-18 has been studied via the C-14(O-18,(14)Calpha)C-14 reaction at 102 MeV. The excitation energy of the decaying O-18 resonant particle has been determined following the coincident detection of the correlated C-14 and alpha particles. A study of the angular correlations of the breakup fragments has allowed the spins of the decaying states to be investigated. The data provide evidence that a quasimolecular rotational band, identified by enhanced alpha decay, is observed in the reaction. Evidence is also presented for the O-18+alpha decay of Ne-22.