Using (n,xnγ) reactions to probe nuclear structure

Building on nuclear spectroscopic methods developed with the (n,n') reaction, we have examined reactions with higher-energy neutrons to determine their utility for studying the structure of nuclei. Studies have been performed with spallation neutrons from the LANSCE/WNR facility and reaction channels with as many as 27 emitted nucleons have been observed. At the University of Kentucky accelerator laboratory, the ²H(d,n) and ³H(d,n) reactions have been used to produce neutrons with energies up to 22 MeV. Spectroscopic measurements at these lower energies, where the (n,2nγ) and (n,3nγ) reactions dominate, appear to have greater potential for yielding new spectroscopic information than those at higher energies.