We report the results of a study of high-resolution inelastic electron scattering from ${}_{}{}^{17}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$ and ${}_{}{}^{18}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$ at excitation energies between 15 and 23 MeV. Measurements were performed at 90° for momentum transfers of 1.4, 1.5, 1.7, and 1.9 ${\mathrm{fm}}^{\mathrm{-}1}$ and at 160° for a momentum transfer of 1.7 ${\mathrm{fm}}^{\mathrm{-}1}$. Several prominent narrow peaks were observed in the spectra of both nuclei. The measured form factors for levels in ${}_{}{}^{17}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$ at 15.78, 17.06, 20.14, and 20.70 MeV and in ${}_{}{}^{18}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$ at 18.70, 20.36, and 22.39 MeV are, within experimental uncertainties, completely transverse. These strongly excited states are assumed to arise from isovector M4 transitions of the type 1$p_{3/2}$→1$d_{5/2}$. A simple weak-coupling model is used to assign spins to the levels in ${}_{}{}^{17}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$. Finally, we also report measurements for several narrow states in both nuclei, for which the spins and parities have not yet been identified.

• Received 24 February 1986

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.34.1214