The absolute decay width of a single-particle level in a deformed potential is evaluated exactly. Experimental data are analyzed by using the formalism developed here. It is found that proton decay is a powerful tool to determine the deformation of nuclei as well as to probe small components of the wave functions of the decaying states. This will allow one to study the behavior of single-particle resonances in nuclei close to the drip line, and may guide future experiments.

• Received 23 March 1998

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.81.538