A study of high energy (43--68 MeV/nucleon) one-neutron removal reactions on a range of neutron-rich psd-shell nuclei (Z = 5--9, A = 12--25) has been undertaken. The inclusive longitudinal and transverse momentum distributions for the core fragments, together with the cross sections have been measured for breakup on a carbon target. Momentum distributions for reactions on tantalum were also measured for a subset of nuclei. An extended version of the Glauber model incorporating second order noneikonal corrections to the JLM parametrisation of the optical potential has been used to describe the nuclear breakup, whilst the Coulomb dissociation is treated within first order perturbation theory. The projectile structure has been taken into account via shell model calculations employing the psd-interaction of Warburton and Brown. Both the longitudinal and transverse momentum distributions, together with the integrated cross sections were well reproduced by these calculations and spin-parity assignments are thus proposed for $^{15}$B, $^{17}$C, $^{19-21}$N, $^{21,23}$O, $^{23-25}$F. In addition to the large spectroscopic amplitudes for the $\nu2$s$_{1/2}$ intruder configuration in the N=9 isotones,$^{14}$B and $^{15}$C, significant $\nu2$s$_{1/2}^2$ admixtures appear to occur in the ground state of the neighbouring N=10 nuclei $^{15}$B and $^{16}$C. Similarly, crossing the N=14 subshell, the occupation of the $\nu2$s$_{1/2}$ orbital is observed for $^{23}$O, $^{24,25}$F. Analysis of the longitudinal and transverse momentum distributions reveals that both carry spectroscopic information, often of a complementary nature. The general utility of high energy nucleon removal reactions as a spectroscopic tool is also examined.Comment: 50 pages, 19 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

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