Nuclear structure data obtained by the (nth,2γ) reaction

Abstract

The determination of nuclear structure parameters such as gamma transitions, level scheme, nuclear level density and radiative strength functions is one of the most important tasks in low-energy nuclear physics. The two-step gamma cascades method based on detection of gamma coincidences following neutron capture, ie. the (n,2γ) reaction has been proven to give spectroscopic data and data concerning level density and radiative strength function. This method allows for the study of the dynamics of interaction and inter-transition between Fermi-and Bose-states of the nucleus near the neutron binding energy. There is an essential difference between these intranuclear processes from those in classical and high-temperature superfluidity, which is determined by a shape of the investigated nucleus, the nucleon parity in it, existence of nucleons of different types (protons and neutrons) etc. Two-step gamma cascades technique has so far been successfully applied for 45 nuclei in the mass region 28<A<200. Brief description of the method will be included here with examples from the recent research