Two-proton knockout from Mg32: Intruder amplitudes in Ne30 and implications for the binding of F29,31

γ-ray decays from excited states in Ne30 and inclusive and exclusive cross sections were measured in the Be9(Mg32,Ne30+γ)X two-proton knockout reaction at incident beam energies of 99.7 and 86.7 MeV/nucleon. The measured cross section is suppressed compared to calculations and is indicative of a reduced overlap of initial and final state wave functions in Mg32 and Ne30. We interpret this reduction as due to large 4p4h amplitudes present in the Ne30 ground state wave function, but not Mg32. Such large intruder components are predicted to help stabilize the heavier fluorine isotopes against neutron emission. © 2010 The American Physical Society.