Thin (≤13-keV) gas targets have been used for high-resolution studies of isospin-allowed ${\mathrm{O}}^{16}(d, \alpha ){\mathrm{N}}^{14}$ differential cross sections for $5.0\le E_d\le 9.0$ MeV. Data were taken at six angles for all $\alpha$ groups corresponding to the ground state of ${\mathrm{N}}^{14}$ and excited states at 3.945, 4.91, 5.10, 5.69, 6.23, 6.44, 7.03, and 7.97 MeV. Angular distributions at selected energies were also obtained. Additional survey data at $9.0\le E_d\le 15.0$ MeV were obtained for groups corresponding to the ground state and the 3.945-, 4.91-, and 5.10-MeV excited states at the laboratory angle $\varphi =14\mathrm{}°$; curves were also obtained at $\varphi =166\mathrm{}°$ for the ground-state and 3.945-MeV excited-state groups. There is some evidence for interpreting the observed peaks in the cross section as ${\mathrm{F}}^{18}$ states. Alternatively, even though the level density of ${\mathrm{F}}^{18}$ is perhaps marginal, some of the data were subjected to statistical-fluctuation analysis to check the validity of the $\frac{\Gamma }{D}\sim 2$ criterion. This analysis yielded an average coherence width $\Gamma$ of the order of 150 keV. Correlation functions with local averages were also tried to test for possible intermediate structure, with negative results. ${\mathrm{N}}^{14}$ levels with $E_x\le 11.51$ MeV were observed, but no evidence was found for previously reported levels at 6.05, 6.70, 7.40, and 7.60 MeV. The 2.311-MeV first-excited-state, isospin-forbidden $\alpha$ group was also observed, and these data were being separately reported.

• Received 7 August 1967

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRev.168.1156