Proton-proton correlations observed in two-proton decay of Mg-19 and Ne-16

Proton-proton correlations were observed for the two-proton decays of the ground states of {sup 19}Mg and {sup 16}Ne. The trajectories of the respective decay products, {sup 17}Ne+p+p and {sup 14}O+p+p, were measured by using a tracking technique with microstrip detectors. These data were used to reconstruct the angular correlations of fragments projected on planes transverse to the precursor momenta. The measured three-particle correlations reflect a genuine three-body decay mechanism and allowed us to obtain spectroscopic information on the precursors with valence protons in the sd shell.