Measurement of 16O(γ,n)15O at medium energies

Abstract

Exclusive differential cross sections for the 16O(γ,n)15O process have been measured for Eγ=150, 200, and 250 MeV and θL=49°, 59°, and 88°. This measurement is the first of its type to be reported for the energy region above the pion production threshold. An uncollimated bremsstrahlung beam was incident on an H2O target, and neutrons were measured with a recoil proton spectrometer with resolution sufficient to identify the residual 15O ground state. The results are compared to (γ,p) data and to calculations including effects from meson exchange currents.