Dipole strength in 144Sm studied via (gamma,n), (gamma,p) and (gamma,alpha) reactions

TL;DR

This study investigates the dipole strength in 144Sm through photoactivation measurements of (gamma,n), (gamma,p), and (gamma,alpha) reactions, comparing experimental yields with theoretical models and proposing a new photon strength function parametrization.

Contribution

The paper introduces a new parametrization of the photon strength function and compares experimental yields with Hauser-Feshbach model predictions for 144Sm reactions.

Findings

Experimental yields align with the modified photon strength model.

Discrepancies observed between measured and calculated yields in some channels.

New photon strength parametrization improves yield predictions.

Abstract

Photoactivation measurements on 144Sm have been performed with bremsstrahlung endpoint energies from 10.0 to 15.5 MeV at the bremsstrahlung facility of the superconducting electron accelerator ELBE of Forschungszentrum Dresden-Rossendorf. The measured activation yield for the 144Sm(gamma,n) reaction is compared with the calculated yield using cross sections from previous photoneutron experiments. The activation yields measured for all disintegration channels 144Sm(gamma,n), (gamma,p) and (gamma,alpha) are compared to the yield calculated by using Hauser-Feshbach statistical models. A new parametrization of the photon strength function is presented and the yield simulated by using the modified photon strength parameters are compared to the experimental data.