Astrophysical relevance of the low-energy dipole strength of 206Pb

Abstract

The dipole strength of 206Pb was studied below the neutron separation energy using photon scattering experiments at the HIGS facility. Utilizing the technique of nuclear resonance fluorescence with 100% linearly-polarized photon beams, the spins, parities, branching ratios and decay widths of excited states in 206Pb from 4.9 - 8.1 MeV have been measured. The new experimental information is used to reliably predict the neutron capture cross section of 205Pb, an important branch point nucleus along the s-process path of nucleosynthesis.