Two-proton events in the 17 F ( p , 2 p ) 16 O reaction

In a recent experimental study [G\\'omez del Campo et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 26, 43 (2001)] of the reaction ${}^{17}\\mathrm{F}{(p,2p)}^{16}\\mathrm{O}$ two-proton events were measured from excitations near a ${1}^{\\ensuremath{-}},$ ${E}^{*}=6.15 \\mathrm{MeV}$ state in ${}^{18}\\mathrm{Ne}.$ We calculate the resonant two-proton production cross section and branching ratios by means of R-matrix theory. We conclude that it is unlikely that two-proton production via population of the ${1}^{\\ensuremath{-}}$ state is sufficient to explain the observed two-proton events. Alternative sources of such events are discussed.