In one of the first measurements of its type, the nuclear response function ${\mathit{R}}_{\mathit{L}\mathit{T}}$ has been determined in the ${}_{}{}^{16}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$(e,e’p${)}^{15}$N reaction in quasielastic kinematics for the ground state (1/$2^{\mathrm{-}}$) and the first excited state (6.32 MeV, 3/$2^{\mathrm{-}}$). Extracted momentum distributions for these two states exhibit asymmetric behavior. Spectroscopic factors show significant depletion of strength, consistent with previous results. ${\mathit{R}}_{\mathit{L}\mathit{T}}$ agrees better with relativistic distorted-wave impulse-approximation calculations in magnitude than does the total cross section.

• Received 7 March 1991

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.67.568