The ($t,p$) two nucleon transfer reaction has been studied on ${}_{}{}^{12}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{C}$ and ${}_{}{}^{14}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{C}$ at a beam energy of 23 MeV with an overall final resolution of better than 30 keV. A new mass excess of + 13.692 ± 0.004 MeV is inferred for the ${}_{}{}^{16}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{C}$ ground state. Seven final states of ${}_{}{}^{16}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{C}$ are noted, and angular distributions are measured for six of these.

NUCLEAR REACTIONS ${}_{}{}^{12,14}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{}(t,p)\mathrm{}{}_{}{}^{14,16}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{C}$, $E_t=23\mathrm{}$ MeV; measured $\sigma (E_p;\theta )$; Enriched targets, DWBA analysis.

• Received 17 January 1978

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.17.1919