Evidence for the ground state of the neutron-unbound nucleus 26 O was observed for the first time in the single proton-knockout reaction from a 82 MeV/u 27 F beam. Neutrons were measured in coincidence with 24 O fragments. 26 O was determined to be unbound by 150 +50 −150 keV from the observation of low-energy neutrons. This result agrees with recent shell model calculations based on microscopic two-and three-nucleon forces.A major challenge in nuclear physics remains the description of nuclei based on fundamental interactions. "Ab-initio" approaches have been developed to calculate nuclear properties based on nucleon-nucleon scattering data up to A ∼ 12 [1]. Recent advances in nuclear theory made it possible to describe some fundamental properties of light nuclei up to oxygen based on two-and three-nucleon interactions [2][3][4][5][6]. On the way to heavier nuclides it will be critical for these models to describe the dramatic change in the location of the neutron dripline from oxygen (N = 16) to fluorine (N ≥ 22) which was first pointed out by Sakurai et al. [7]. The addition of one proton binds at least six additional neutrons. The two-neutron separation energy of 26 O serves as an important benchmark for these calculations. The majority of the current nuclear structure models predict 26 O to be bound [8][9][10][11][12][13] respect to two-neutron emission. 26 O is thus also an excellent candidate for di-neutron emission. Furthermore calculations by Grigorenko et al. predict that the emission of a pair of correlated neutrons might be hindered so that for very low decay energies lifetimes on the order of pico-to nanoseconds could be possible [27].We searched for unbound states in 26 O using oneproton knockout reactions from 27 F and by measuring neutrons in coincidence with 24 O fragments. Figure 1 shows a schematic level scheme of the possible decay paths for predicted states of 26 O. In this letter we present the first evidence for the observation of the unbound ground state of 26 O.

Erratum: Astrophysically important 26 Si states studied with the ( 3 He, n) reaction and the 25 Al( p, γ ) 26 Si reaction rates in explosive hydrogen burning environments [Phys. Rev. C 70, 065805 (2004)]

A recent study of nuclear level densities for 20рAр70 found evidence that the level densities for nuclei off the stability line were lower than those for nearby nuclei on the stability line. This analysis has been extended to cover the mass range 20рAр110 with results that support the original conclusions. As part of the study, the variations with energy and mass number of the parity ratio and spin cutoff parameter are examined.

The energy spectra of neutrons, protons, and α-particles have been measured from the d+ 59 Co and 3 He+ 58 Fe reactions leading to the same compound nucleus, 61 Ni. The experimental cross sections have been compared to Hauser-Feshbach model calculations using different input level density models. None of them have been found to agree with experiment. It manifests the serious problem with available level density parameterizations especially those based on neutron resonance spacings and density of discrete levels. New level densities and corresponding Fermi-gas parameters have been obtained for reaction product nuclei such as 60 Ni, 60 Co, and 57 Fe.

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