PHYSICAL REVIEW C, vol.86, no.2, 2012 (SCI-Expanded)
The level structure of Ne-18 above the alpha-decay threshold has been studied using the O-16(He-3, n) reaction. A coincidence measurement of neutrons and charged particles decaying from populated states in Ne-18 has been made. Decay branching ratios were measured for six resonances and used to calculate the O-14(alpha,p)F-17 reaction rate which is a measure of one of two breakout paths from the hot CNO cycle. The new experimental information combined with previous experimental and theoretical information provides a more accurate calculation of the reaction rate.