Search for 2p Decay of the First Excited State of 17 Ne

Structure of nuclei located near and beyond the drip-lines plays important role in the explosive astrophysical processes. The problem of two-proton decay of the 17 Ne first excited state is a good example of such situation. The two-proton radiative capture is a possible bypass of the 15 O waiting point in the rp-process. The rate of this process drastically depends on the value of the weak 2