One-proton knockout from N17 at 245 MeV/nucleon

The cross section for one-proton knockout from ¹⁷N on a carbon target at 245 MeV/nucleon has been measured. The experimental result is compared to the predictions based on the Glauber reaction model combined with shell model structure inputs. The experimental to theoretical cross section ratio Rₛ is consistent with the well established Rₛ-ΔS systematics. The experimental one-proton knockout cross section for ¹⁷N projectile is found to be smaller than those for the neighboring isotones ¹⁶C and ¹⁸O. The observed small cross section for ¹⁷N can be attributed to the small spectroscopic factors from ¹⁷N to the bound states of ¹⁶C residue. The shell model calculations show that one-proton removal from the π0p3/2 orbital of ¹⁷N mainly leads to unbound states of ¹⁶C, and the spectroscopic factor from ¹⁷N to the ¹⁶C 2₁⁺ state is negligibly small, indicating that the proton configuration π(0p3/2)³(0p1/2)¹ contributes little to the ¹⁶C 2₁⁺ state and neutron excitation configuration plays dominant role.