The parity-transfer $({}^{16}{rm O},{}^{16}{rm F}(0^-,{rm g.s.}))$ reaction is presented as a new probe for investigating isovector $0^-$ states in nuclei. The properties of $0^-$ states provide a stringent test of the threshold density for pion condensation in nuclear matter. Utilizing a $0^+ rightarrow 0^-$ transition in the projectile, the parity-transfer reaction transfers an internal parity to a target nucleus, resulting in a unique sensitivity to unnatural-parity states. Consequently, the selectivity for $0^-$ states is higher than in other reactions employed to date. The probe was applied to a study of the $0^-$ states in ${}^{12}{rm B}$ via the ${}^{12}{rm C}({}^{16}{rm O},{}^{16}{rm F}(0^-,{rm g.s.}))$ reaction at $247~{rm MeV/u}$. The excitation energy spectra were deduced by detecting the ${}^{15}{rm O}+p$ pair produced in the decay of the ${}^{16}{rm F}$ ejectile. A known $0^-$ state at $E_x = 9.3~{rm MeV}$ was observed with an unprecedentedly high signal-to-noise ratio. The data also revealed new candidates of $0^-$ states at $E_x=6.6 pm 0.4$ and $14.8 pm 0.3~{rm MeV}$. The results demonstrate the high efficiency of $0^-$ state detection by the parity-transfer reaction.
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