Intermediate-energy Coulomb excitation of Ne-19

Transition rates from the ground-state to selected states in Ne-19 have bee n measured by their gamma yield following intermediate-energy radioactive i on beam Coulomb excitation. These are compared to corresponding transitions in F-19 and to shell model calculations. An upper limit on the cross-secti on of the 4.033 MeV state places a limit on the transition rate and hence o n the total electromagnetic decay width Gamma (gamma) of this state, which is of astrophysical interest. Combining the results with an upper limit on the lifetime of this state and shell model calculations gives an estimate o f its width.