Photonuclear reaction data and γ-ray sources for astrophysics

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.