Neutron angular distribution in (γ, n) reactions with linearly polarized γ-ray beam generated by laser Compton scattering

• Published in: Physics letters. B Vol. 737; no. C; pp. 109 - 113
• Main Authors: Horikawa, K., Miyamoto, S., Mochizuki, T., Amano, S., Li, D., Imasaki, K., Izawa, Y., Ogata, K., Chiba, S., Hayakawa, T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 07.10.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Giant dipole resonance; Linear polarized γ-ray; M1 strength; Neutron angular distribution; Photodisintegration reactions; Photodisintegration reactions; Linear polarized γ-ray; M1 strength; Giant dipole resonance; Neutron angular distribution
• ISSN: 0370-2693; 1873-2445
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physletb.2014.08.024

In 1957, Agodi predicted that the neutron angular distribution in (γ, n) reactions with a 100% linearly polarized γ-ray beam for dipole excitation should be anisotropic and universally described by the simple function of a+b⋅cos⁡(2ϕ) at the polar angle θ=90°, where ϕ is the azimuthal angle. However, this prediction has not been experimentally confirmed in over half a century. We have verified experimentally this angular distribution in the (γ, n) reaction for 197Au, 127I, and natural Cu targets using linearly polarized laser Compton scattering γ-rays. The result suggests that the (γ→, n) reaction is a novel tool to study nuclear physics in the giant dipole resonance region.