Abstract
The rates of the 18F(p, α)15O and 18F(p, γ)19Ne reactions in astrophysical environments depend on the properties of 19Ne levels above the 18F + p threshold. There are at least 8 levels in the mirror nucleus 19F for which analogs have not been observed in 19Ne in the excitation energy range E x = 6.4−7.6 MeV. We have made a search for these levels by measuring the 1H(18F; p)18F excitation function over the energy range E c.m. = 0.3−1.3 MeV. We have identified and measured the properties of a newly observed level at E x = 7.420 ± 0.014 MeV, which is most likely the mirror to the J π = 7/2+ 19F level at 7.56 MeV. This new level is found to increase the calculated 18F(p, α)15O reaction rate by 16%, 63%, and 106% at T = 1, 2, and 3GK, respectively.
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