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Photo-induced reaction cross section data are of importance for a variety of current or emerging applications, such as radiation shielding design and radiation transport analyses, calculations of absorbed dose in the human body during radiotherapy, physics and technology of fission reactors (influence of photo-reactions on neutron balance) and fusion reactors (plasma diagnostics and shielding), activation analyses, safeguards and inspection technologies, nuclear waste transmutation, medical isotope production and astrophysical applications. To address these data needs the IAEA Photonuclear Data library was produced in 1999, containing evaluated photo-induced cross sections and neutron spectra for 164 nuclides which were deemed relevant for the applications. Since the release of the IAEA Photonuclear Data Library however, new experimental data as well as new methods to assess the reliability of experimental cross sections have become available. Theoretical models and input parameters used to evaluate photo-induced reactions have improved significantly over the years. In addition, new measurements of partial photoneutron cross sections using mono-energetic photon beams and advanced neutron detection systems have been performed allowing for the validation of the evaluations and assessments of the experimental data. Furthermore, technological advances have led to the construction of new and more powerful gamma-beam facilities, therefore new data needs are emerging. We report our coordinated efforts to address these data needs and present the results of the new up-to-date evaluations included in the new updated IAEA Photonuclear Data Library consisting of 219 nuclides. The new library includes 188 new evaluations produced by the CRP evaluators, and one evaluation taken from the JENDL/PD-2016 library, while 20 evaluations were retained from the previous 1999 IAEA Photonuclear Data Library. In most of the cases, the photon energy goes up to 200 MeV. A total of 55 nuclides are new in this library reflecting the progress in measurements but also the developing data needs. In this paper we discuss the new assessment method and make recommendations to the user community in cases where the experimental data are discrepant and the assessments disagree. In addition, in the absence of experimental data, we present model predictions for photo-induced reaction cross section on nuclides of potential interest to medical radioisotope production.

We present the latest development of measuring (γ, n) cross sections and giant dipole resonance (GDR) cross sections in the IAEA photonuclear data project. Photoneutron cross sections were measured for 21 isotopes below 2n threshold to construct the γ-ray strength function (γSF) with the γSF method; (γ, n) cross sections are used as experimental constraints on the model E1 and M1 γSFs from the Hartree–Fock–Bogolyubov plus quasi-particle random phase approximation based on the Gogny D1M interaction supplemented with the M1 upbend. GDR cross sections were measured for 11 nuclei from 9Be to 209Bi by direct neutron-multiplicity sorting with a flat-efficiency neutron detector toward a goal of resolving the long-standing discrepancy between the Livermore and Saclay data. We present γSFs for the Ni isotopic chain and GDR cross sections for 159Tb as well as those updated for 209Bi.

Photoneutron measurements in the Giant Dipole Resonance region have been recently performed using quasimonochromatic Laser Compton Scattering γ -ray beams at NewSUBARU (Japan) for 59Co, 89Y, 103Rh, 139La, 159Tb, 165Ho, 169Tm, 181Ta, 197Au and 209Bi. Experimental ( γ , x n ) with x = 1 – 4 photoneutron cross sections have been obtained with a direct neutron-multiplicity sorting method associated to a flat-efficiency neutron detector , which operates under single firing conditions obtained by low reaction rates. In this paper, we discuss recent developments to the neutron-multiplicity sorting procedure dedicated to (i) resolving multiple firing events and to (ii) extracting the average energies of ( γ , x n ) photoneutrons. The method is tested on 159Tb experimental data.

The response function to high energy γ γ -rays of two large volume LaBr 3 :Ce crystals (3.5”x8”) and the linearity of the coupled PMT’s were investigated at the NewSUBARU facility, where γ γ -rays in the energy range 6 –38 MeV were produced and sent into the detectors. Monte Carlo simulations were performed to reproduce the experimental spectra. The photopeak and interaction efficiencies were also evaluated both in case of a collimated beam or an isotropic source.

A novel technique of direct neutron-multiplicity sorting with a flat-efficiency detector is proposed to resolve the long-standing discrepancy between the Livermore and Saclay data of partial photoneutron cross sections. A flat-response neutron detector with the detection efficiency of 36 . 5 ± 1 . 6 % over a neutron energy range 0.01–5.0 MeV was developed by optimizing triple-ring configurations of He proportional counters embedded in a polyethylene moderator. The technique forms a foundation of measuring cross sections with x = 1 − 3 for the photonuclear data project of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The methodology of direct neutron-multiplicity sorting and key experimental elements are presented.

Photon strength functions describing the average response of the nucleus to an electromagnetic probe are key input information in the theoretical modelling of nuclear reactions. Consequently they are important for a wide range of fields such as nuclear structure, nuclear astrophysics, medical isotope production, fission and fusion reactor technologies. They are also sources of information for widely used reaction libraries such as the IAEA Reference Input Parameter Library and evaluated data files such as EGAF. In the past two decades, the amount of reaction gamma-ray data measured to determine photon strength functions has grown rapidly. Different experimental techniques have led to discrepant results and users are faced with the dilemma of which (if any) of the divergent data to adopt. We report on a coordinated effort to compile and assess the existing experimental data on photon strength functions from the giant dipole resonance region to energies below the neutron separation energy. The assessment of the discrepant data at energies around or below the neutron separation energy has been possible only in a few cases where adequate information on the model-dependent analysis and estimation of uncertainties was available. In the giant dipole resonance region, we adopt the recommendations of the new IAEA photonuclear data library. We also present global empirical and semi-microscopic models that describe the photon strength functions in the entire energy region and reproduce reasonably well most of the experimental data. The compiled experimental photon strengths and recommended model calculations are available from the PSF database hosted at the IAEA (http://www-nds.iaea.org/PSFdatabase)., SCOPUS: re.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Photoneutron cross sections were measured for $^{137}$Ba and $^{138}$Ba at energies below two-neutron threshold using quasi-monochromatic $\gamma$-ray beams produced in laser Compton-scattering at the NewSUBARU synchrotron radiation facility. The photoneutron data are used to constrain the $\gamma$-ray strength function on the basis of the Hartree-Fock-Bogolyubov plus quasi-particle random phase approximation using the Gogny D1M interaction. Supplementing the experimentally constrained $\gamma$-ray strength function with the zero-limit E1 and M1 contributions which are unique to the deexcitation mode, we discuss radiative neutron capture cross sections relevant to the s-process nucleosynthesis of barium isotopes in the vicinity of the neutron magic number 82., Comment: arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1811.00291, arXiv:1804.07654

The future prospects of photonuclear reactions studies at the new Extreme Light Infrastructure—Nuclear Physics (ELI-NP) facility are discussed in view of the pursuit of investigating the electromagnetic response of nuclei using γ-ray beams of unprecedented energy resolution and intensity characteristics. We present here the features of the γ-ray beam source, the emerging ELI-NP experimental program involving photonuclear reactions cross section measurements and spectroscopy and angular measurements of γ-rays and neutrons along with the detection arrays currently under implementation.

Photoneutron cross sections were measured for Ni58,Ni60,Ni61, and Ni64 at energies between the one-neutron and two-neutron thresholds using quasimonochromatic γ-ray beams produced in laser Compton scattering at the NewSUBARU synchrotron radiation facility. These photoneutron data are used to extract the γ-ray strength function above the neutron threshold, complementing the information obtained by the Oslo method below the threshold. We discuss radiative neutron-capture cross sections and the Maxwellian-averaged cross sections for Ni isotopes including Ni63, a branching point nucleus along the weak s-process path. The cross sections are calculated with the experimentally constrained γ-ray strength functions from the Hartree-Fock-Bogolyubov plus quasiparticle–random-phase approximation based on the Gogny D1M interaction for both E1 and M1 components and supplemented with the M1 upbend.

Photoneutron cross sections were measured in the $^{209}\mathrm{Bi}$($\ensuremath{\gamma}, xn$) reaction with $x=1--4$ at energies from the neutron threshold to 40 MeV using quasimonochromatic laser Compton-scattering $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray beams. A novel technique of direct neutron-multiplicity sorting with a flat-efficiency detector was used. Results are compared with the positron in-flight annihilation data of Livermore and Saclay as well as with bremsstrahlung data. The present neutron yields are consistent with the latest photoactivation measurement with bremsstrahlung. The giant dipole resonance component of the total photoneutron cross section is reasonably reproduced by model calculations of the Hartree-Fock Bogoliubov plus quasiparticle random phase approximation based on the Gogny D1M interaction for both E1 and M1 components. In contrast, the quasideuteron component of the total photoneutron cross section requires a factor of $\ensuremath{\sim}3$ enhancement of the Levinger parameter. Furthermore, a survival of large $(\ensuremath{\gamma},n)$ cross sections above 20 MeV may indicate the surface effect on the two-component particle-hole state density. The threshold behavior of photoneutron emission is discussed in terms of the average neutron kinetic energy.

We discuss the γ-ray strength function toward a unified understanding of (γ,n) and (n,γ) reactions and propose a novel technique of direct neutron-multiplicity sorting to resolve the long-standing discrepancy between the Livermore and Scalya data of partial photoneutron cross sections., SCOPUS: cp.p, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

The well-known problem of noticeable disagreements between photoneutron cross sections from various experiments was discussed in detail for 209Bi. Data for partial photoneutron reactions cross sections obtained at Livermore (USA) using quasimonoenergetic annihilation photons and the method of neutron multiplicity sorting were analyzed using the objective physical criteria and the experimental-theoretical method for evaluation. Because of significant systematic uncertainties involved in the method for determining the neutron multiplicity, experimental data do not satisfy the criteria of reliability and differ noticeably from the evaluated data. The new experimental data for 209Bi (γ, in) reactions with i = 1–4 were obtained using quasimonochromatic laser Compton-scattering (LCS) γ-ray beams at the NewSUBARU synchrotron radiation facility and the novel technique of direct neutron-multiplicity sorting with a flat-efficiency detector. It was found that new σ(γ, 1n), σ (γ, 2n), and σ (γ, 3n) contradict noticeably to the Livermore data. It was shown that at the same time the new 209Bi photoneutron cross-sections are in good agreement with data evaluated using experimental-theoretical method and assuring the reliability of those.

An update of the NACRE compilation [3] is presented. This new compilation, referred to as NACRE II, reports thermonuclear reaction rates for 34 charged-particle induced, two-body exoergic reactions on nuclides with mass number A 16 , of which fifteen are particle-transfer reactions and the rest radiative capture reactions. When compared with NACRE, NACRE II features in particular (1) the addition to the experimental data collected in NACRE of those reported later, preferentially in the major journals of the field by early 2013, and (2) the adoption of potential models as the primary tool for extrapolation to very low energies of astrophysical S-factors, with a systematic evaluation of uncertainties. As in NACRE, the rates are presented in tabular form for temperatures in the 10 6 ≲ T ⩽ 10 10 K range. Along with the ‘adopted’ rates, their low and high limits are provided. The new rates are available in electronic form as part of the Brussels Library (BRUSLIB) of nuclear data. The NACRE II rates also supersede the previous NACRE rates in the Nuclear Network Generator (NETGEN) for astrophysics. [ http://www.astro.ulb.ac.be/databases.html ]

An indirect method of determining radiative neutron-capture cross sections for unstable nuclei which we refer to as the γ-ray strength function (γSF) method is outlined and applied to Zr and Sn isotopes. Photoneutron cross sections for 91,92,94,96Zr and 117,116Sn near neutron threshold show the presence of extra γ-ray strengths known as giant M1 and pygmy E1 resonances on top of the low- energy γSF of GDR. Based on the γSF method, we present (n,γ) cross sections for two radioactive nuclei, a long-lived fission product, 93Zr with T1/2 = 1.5 × 106 y and an s-process branching point nucleus, 95Zr with T1/2 = 64.0 d.

Photoneutron cross section measurements were made for Au in the entire energy range of the (γ,n) channel based on a direct neutron counting with quasi-monochromatic γ-rays produced in inverse Compton scattering of laser photons with relativistic electrons. The data were analyzed by a least-squares method to deduce photoneutron cross sections. The analysis significantly reduced experimental uncertainties compared with those resulting from the photon difference method. The result is compared with the previous data by direct neutron counting with γ-rays produced in positron annihilation in flight and by photoactivation with bremsstrahlung. The present data are in good agreement with the previous data near the neutron threshold, while there remain some discrepancies between the present and the previous data above 10 MeV.

The 80Se(γ, n)79Se cross section was measured with laser-Compton scattering (LCS) γ-rays to supply fundamental data for the estimation of the inverse reaction cross sections, i.e., the 79Se(n, γ)80Se cross section. An enriched 80Se sample and a reference 197Au sample were irradiated with LCS γ-rays whose maximum energy was varied from 10.5 to 16.0 MeV. The energy distributions of LCS γ-rays were precisely determined using a high-resolution high-energy photon spectrometer (HHS). Emitted neutrons were detected by a high-efficiency 4π-3He detector. The excitation function of the 80Se(γ, n) cross section was determined for the energy range of 10.2–14.6 MeV. The energy point corresponding to each cross section was deduced using the accurately determined energy distribution of LCS γ-rays.

The photon mass attenuation coefficients of the important materials for γ-ray detection, Ge and BGO (Bi4Ge3O12) crystals, have been measured for 10.0 MeV γ-rays. The measurement system using the laser-Compton backscattering γ-rays and the high-resolution high-energy photon spectrometer has been developed and utilized. The effectiveness of the system achieving the total systematic uncertainties of 0.5% for the measurements of the photon mass attenuation coefficients was demonstrated. It was shown that the measured photon mass attenuation coefficients, 318.1 ± 1.7 [cm2/g] for the Ge crystal and 425.2 ± 2.4 [cm2/g] for the BGO crystal, agree within the achieved experimental uncertainties with the evaluated values including atomic and nuclear processes at 10.0 MeV.

The cross sections of the 152Sm(γ,n) and 197Au(γ,n) reactions have been measured with the laser-Compton scattering (LCS) γ beam in the 8.3–12.4MeV energy range. The photon difference method has been used for LCS γ rays in the data analysis for the first time. The present data for 197Au measured as the standard are in agreement with the preceding data and the recent recommendation. On the other hand, the preceding data for 152Sm at 8.3 MeV are twice as large as the present data.

The perspectives for photonuclear experiments at the new Extreme Light Infrastructure - Nuclear Physics (ELI-NP) facility are discussed in view of the need to accumulate novel and more precise nuclear data. The parameters of the ELI-NP gamma beam system are presented. The emerging experimental program, which will be realized at ELI-NP, is presented. Examples of day-one experiments with the nuclear resonance fluorescence technique, photonuclear reaction measurements, photofission experiments and studies of nuclear collective excitation modes and competition between various decay channels are discussed. The advantages which ELI-NP provides for all these experiments compared to the existing facilities are discussed.

Photon-induced reactions play a key role in the nucleosynthesis of heavy neutron-deficient nuclei, the so-called p-nuclei. In this paper we review the present status of experiments on photon-induced reactions at energies of astrophysical importance and their relevance to p-process modeling., Comment: Nucl. Phys. A, in press

Direct determination of photoneutron cross sections of astrophysical importance has recently become possible with use of quasi-monochromatic γ beams produced in laser Compton backscattering (LCS) from relativistic electrons at AIST. The astrophysics to be discussed with the photodisintegration cross section are both stellar and big bang nucleosyntheses regarding the production of p-process and s-process nuclei as well as light elements. Synchrotron radiations from a 10 tesla superconducting wiggler (SCW) at SPring-8 serve as an ideal photon source to determine photoreaction rates. This paper covers the latest cross section measurements with the LCS photon beams and a feasibility study of determining (γ,x) (x = n, p, α) reaction rates with the SCW radiation.

The astrophysical reaction rates of the 16O(a,g)20Ne capture reaction and its inverse 20Ne(g,a)16O photodisintegration reaction are given by the sum of several narrow resonances and a small direct capture contribution at low temperatures. Although the thermal population of low lying excited states in 16O and 20Ne is extremely small, the first excited state in 20Ne plays a non-negligible role for the photodisintegration rate. Consequences for experiments with so-called quasi-thermal photon energy distributions are discussed.

Cross sections of the 186W, 187Re, 188Os(γ,n) reactions were measured using quasi monochromatic γ-ray beams from laser Compton scattering (LCS), and results for the latter reaction are presented here. Neutron capture cross sections of the inverse reactions were evaluated by the Hauser-Feshbach statistical calculation where the experimental data were used to constrain the model parameters, especially the E1 strength function. The influence of the neutron capture by the 9.75 keV first excited state in 187Os which is substantially populated in stellar plasmas at typical s-process temperatures is examined in connection with the 187Re-187Os cosmochronology.

JSNS, the Japanese Spallation Neutron Source, is a forthcoming 1MW spallation neutron source. Since it is highly intense and has low background, it will provide a unique opportunity to study neutron-induced nuclear reactions relevant to astrophysics with excellent sensitivity and accuracy. Details of the JSNS facility and a plan for an experimental study of cosmonuclear physics are presented.

The 10-T superconducting wiggler at SPring-8 is an ideal photon source for nuclear astrophysics experiments because it produces high-energy synchrotron radiations with equivalent blackbody temperatures being billions of Kelvin. We discuss the characteristics of the high-energy radiation from the superconducting wiggler and its applications to ( γ ,n) measurements.

Trinucleon molecular structures in 6He and 6Be were investigated by using the 6Li(7Li, 7Be)6He reaction at 455 MeV and 6Li(3He, t)6Be reaction at 450 MeV, respectively. Binary decays into t + t from a broad state at Ex=18.0±1.0 MeV in 6He and into 3He + 3He from one at Ex=18.0±1.2 MeV in 6Be, respectively, were observed by measuring trinucleon cluster decays in coincidence with reaction particles. The branching ratios for binary decay were estimated to be about 0.7 for 6He and 6Be. These large branching ratios show that a trinucleon cluster state exists as an isobaric partner around Ex=18 MeV in 6He and 6Be.

New α-ray beams at synchrotron radiation facilities will give us unprecedented opportunities to study photonuclear reactions of astrophysical interest. Konan University and the Universite Libre de Bruxelles launch a 5-year project, starting in 2004, of constructing ari extended NACRE compilation in which photonuclear reactions obtained within a dedicated international effort will be included. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

We discuss the properties of γ beams produced by Compton back-scattering of laser light from relativistic electrons at AIST and SPring-8 and their applications to nuclear astrophysics experiments.

We report on efforts to develop reliable photonuclear cross section and photon strength function data by measuring, compiling, assessing, evaluating the available data, and producing tables of Giant Dipole Resonance parameters and global models for use in basic sciences and applications., SCOPUS: cp.p, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Highly-monochromatic γ-ray beams are produced at the NewSUBARU synchrotron radiation facility by the inverse Compton scattering of laser photons from relativistic electrons. The latest s-process study in nuclear astrophysics with the γ-ray beam is presented., SCOPUS: cp.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Photoneutron cross sections for seven samarium isotopes, 144Sm, 147Sm, 148Sm, 149Sm, 150Sm, 152Sm and 154Sm, have been investigated near neutron emission threshold using quasimonochromatic laser-Compton scattering γ-rays produced at the synchrotron radiation facility NewSUBARU. The results are important for nuclear astrophysics calculations and also for probing γ-ray strength functions in the vicinity of neutron threshold. Here we describe the neutron detection system and we discuss the related data analysis and the necessary method improvements for adapting the current experimental method to the working parameters of the future Gamma Beam System of Extreme Light Infrastructure - Nuclear Physics facility.

We study the astrophysical reaction rate for the formation of $^{9}$Be through the three body reaction $\alpha(\alpha n,\gamma)$. This reaction is one of the key reactions which could bridge the mass gap at A = 8 nuclear systems to produce intermediate-to-heavy mass elements in alpha- and neutron-rich environments such as r-process nucleosynthesis in supernova explosions, s-process nucleosynthesis in asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars, and primordial nucleosynthesis in baryon inhomogeneous cosmological models. To calculate the thermonuclear reaction rate in a wide range of temperatures, we numerically integrate the thermal average of cross sections assuming a two-steps formation through a metastable $^{8}$Be. Off-resonant and on-resonant contributions from the ground state in $^{8}$Be are taken into account. As input cross section, we adopt the latest experimental data by photodisintegration of $^{9}$Be with laser-electron photon beams, which covers all relevant resonances in $^{9}$Be. We provide the reaction rate for $\alpha(\alpha n,\gamma)^{9}$Be in the temperature range from T$_{9}$=10$^{-3}$ to T$_{9}$=10$^{1}$ both in the tabular form and in the analytical form. The calculated reaction rate is compared with the reaction rates of the CF88 and the NACRE compilations. The CF88 rate is valid at $T_{9} > 0.028$ due to lack of the off-resonant contribution. The CF88 rate differs from the present rate by a factor of two in a temperature range $T_{9} \geq 0.1$. The NACRE rate, which adopted different sources of experimental information on resonance states in $^{9}$Be, is 4--12 times larger than the present rate at $T_{9} \leq 0.028$, but is consistent with the present rate to within $\pm 20 %$ at $T_{9} \geq 0.1$.

Laser-electron photon beams (LEPBs) in the MeV region have been produced in head-on collisions between relativistic electrons and laser photons at AIST. The LEPB is quasi-monochromatic and energy-variable naturally with 100% linear polarization. Photoneutron cross sections were measured for 9Be and 181Ta with the LEPB. The data are discussed in the context of nuclear astrophysics.

Photoneutron cross sections were measured for the seven stable samarium isotopes ${}^{144,147,148,149,150,152,154}\mathrm{Sm}$ near the neutron threshold with quasi-monochromatic laser-Compton scattering $\ensuremath{\gamma}\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}\mathrm{rays}$. Our photoneutron cross sections are found to be low by 20%--37% relative to existing data. The photoneutron data are analyzed with the talys reaction code by considering the Skyrme Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) plus quasiparticle random phase approximation (QRPA) model and the axially symmetric deformed Gogny HFB plus QRPA model of the $E1$ $\ensuremath{\gamma}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{ray}$ strength. Using the $\ensuremath{\gamma}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{ray}$ strength function constrained by the present photoneutron data, we made a thorough analysis of the reverse $(n,\ensuremath{\gamma})$ cross sections including the radioactive nucleus $^{151}\mathrm{Sm}$ with a half-life of 90 yr. The radiative neutron capture cross section for $^{153}\mathrm{Sm}$ with the half-life of 1.928 d is deduced with the $\ensuremath{\gamma}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{ray}$ strength function method.

Elastic scattering and inclusive breakup of 6Li particles on 12C, 58Ni, 90Zr, and 208Pb targets are measured at 100A MeV. The elastic scattering data are compared with single channel and Coupled Discretized Continuum Channels calculations. The coupling-effect between the elastic and the breakup channels is important even at an incident energy of 100A MeV and cannot be neglected. The inclusive breakup data are investigated for orbital dispersion effects which are found to be less significant at 100A MeV. The longitudinal momentum distributions are broader than predicted by theoretical expectations.

Delayed nature associated with the quantum tunnelling effect was found for non-resonant break-up of through the Gamow energy region. This delayed nature is discussed in the astrophysical context of the Coulomb dissociation method; post Coulomb acceleration and its effect on the energy dependence of the cross sections.

The method of Coulomb breakup was investigated used to extract absolute astrophysical S-factors for primordial 7Li synthesis. The method is discussed for the breakup of 42 MeV-7Li through astrophysical continuum states with emphasis on the amplification factor, nuclear breakup contribution and Coulomb reacceleration.

Coincidence measurements of α- 12 C pairs collinearly emitted in the breakup of 30 MeV/u- 16 O incident on 208 Pb and 120 Sn were performed with a two detector system set up along the focal plane of a magnetic spectrograph. Double differential cross sections for sequential breakup via the 2 2 + and 2 3 + states in 16 O were analyzed within the framework of coupled-channels (CC) calculations which incorporated microscopic α- 12 C cluster model wave functions for bound and unbound states of 16 O. The experimental data are satisfactorily reproduced by the CC calculations to within a factor of two. The results are discussed in terms of the interference between nuclear- and Coulomb-breakup amplitudes.

Photoneutron cross sections were measured for ${}^{94}$Mo, ${}^{95}$Mo, ${}^{96}$Mo, ${}^{97}$Mo, ${}^{98}$Mo, and ${}^{100}$Mo near the neutron threshold with quasi-monochromatic laser-Compton scattering $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays. The photoneutron data were analyzed with the Skyrme Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) plus quasiparticle random phase approximation (QRPA) model and the axially symmetric-deformed Gogny HFB plus QRPA model of $E1$ $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray strength. Combining the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray strength function constrained by the present photoneutron data with either the nuclear resonance fluorescence data or the updated Oslo data to supplement the data below the neutron threshold, a thorough analysis of the reverse $(n,\ensuremath{\gamma})$ cross sections is made whenever measurements are available. The Oslo data and the corresponding uncertainties are updated based on the latest results of the $s$-wave neutron spacing and the average radiative width determined in particular for ${}^{96}$Mo. Finally, radiative neutron capture cross sections for two radioactive nuclei, ${}^{93}$Mo and ${}^{99}$Mo, are deduced with the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray strength function method.

Plastic phoswich detectors, consisting of a 400 μm fast scintillator (BC400) and a 22 mm slow scintillator (BC444), were used for heavy ion identification in magnetic spectrograph measurements. While the light output from the phoswich in a fast time gate was sensitive to the Z separation when combined with a Bϱ measurement, the light output in a delayed-long time gate provided mass separation. The method of particle identification with the plastic phoswiches is described in detail.

New data of total and partial (γ,xn) cross sections with x = 1–3 are proposed to be measured by direct neutron multiplicity sorting using Laser Compton scattering (LCS) gamma ray beams at the ELI-NP to solve long standing discrepancies between existing Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (USA) and France Centre d'Etudes Nucleaires de Saclay photonuclear data. Pioneering experiments are currently performed at the NewSUBARU facility. We present here preliminary results on 209 Bi(g,xn) cross section measurements.

γ -ray sources at synchrotron radiation facilities will provide unprecedented opportunities to investigate photonuclear reactions of astrophysical interest. I report recent research activities in Japan and call for an international collaboration to construct a photonuclear astrophysics database.

Elastic scattering of 3 He particles from 12 C, 28 Si, 58 Ni, 90 Zr and 208 Pb was measured at an incident energy of 450 MeV. Data were analyzed in the framework of the optical model based upon the Woods-Saxon parametrization. The depth of the real potential was determined to be about 30 MeV, irrespective of the target nucleus. It was found that volume integrals per nucleon of the real potentials became close to that of the proton and those of the imaginary potentials were about one half of that of the proton. A new empirical formula is proposed regarding the volume integrals per nucleon of the imaginary potentials.