Level matrix, N16 decay, and the C12(,)16O reaction

The level matrix corresponding to the scrK-matrix parametrization of a resonant nuclear reaction is derived and applied to the spectrum of particles emitted following N16 decay. The parametrized spectrum is fitted to data simultaneously with the E1 capture cross section of the C12(,)16O reaction and the p-wave phase shift of C12(,)12C. Our analysis shows that new measurements of the spectrum from N16 decay could be used to significantly reduce the uncertainty of the C12(,)16O astrophysical S factor at 0.3 MeV. Various constraints on the parameters are analyzed and suggestions are made for further reducing the uncertainty in this crucial reaction rate.