Alpha - 5He decaying states and the ground state rotational band of 9Be

In a measurement of the 9Be(7Li,alpha 7Li)n alpha reaction at E = 52 MeV it is unambigously established for the first time that the 9Be excited states around 6.5 and 11.3 MeV decay into the alpha + 5He channel. This fact may support previous claims that the 11.3 MeV state is also a member of the ground state rotational band.