Hartree-Fock intrinsic states in ${}_{}{}^{16}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$ are examined to find out the extent to which they are good approximations to the exact eigenstates of the system. For this purpose the notion of width of a state is used. In terms of the width we find that by itself the Hartree-Fock approximation is not good in ${}_{}{}^{16}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$, however it does provide a suitable basis to discuss the structure of the low-lying states. Our calculation of the $0^{+}$ levels confirms earlier suggestions made regarding the nature of these levels and is also in agreement with exact calculations done in a small basis space.

• Received 4 October 1971

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.6.34