  Background: Resonance scattering has been extensively used to study the
structure of exotic, neutron-deficient nuclei. Extension of the resonance
scattering technique to neutron-rich nuclei was suggested more than 20 years
ago. This development is based on the isospin conservation law. In spite of
broad field of the application, it has never gained a wide-spread acceptance.
Purpose: To benchmark the experimental approach to study the structure of
exotic neutron-rich nuclei through resonance scattering on a proton target.
Method: The excitation function for p+8Li resonance scattering is measured
using a thick target by recording coincidence between light and heavy recoils,
populating T=3/2 isobaric analog states (IAS) in 9Be. Results: A good fit of
the 8Li(p,p)8Li resonance elastic scattering excitation function was obtained
using previously tentatively known 5/2- T=3/2 state at 18.65 MeV in 9Be and a
new broad T=3/2 s-wave state - the 5/2+ at 18.5 MeV. These results fit the
expected iso-mirror properties for the T=3/2 A=9 iso-quartet. Conclusions: Our
analysis confirmed isospin as a good quantum number for the investigated highly
excited T=3/2 states and demonstrated that studying the structure of
neutron-rich exotic nuclei through IAS is a promising approach.
