The Giant Resonance of Photodisintegration of Tantalum

Abstract

The neutron yield from tantalum, has been measured as a. function of bremsstrahlung energy, and from this the shape of the cross section for the nuclear absorption of photons by tantalum has been deduced. This cross section shows definite evidence that it is made up of two component parts. The result is in agreement with the theoretical predictions of Danos (1958) for this nucleus, both regarding the existence of the two components and the energy separation of the two peaks. Using the Danos theory, the intrinsic electric quadrupole moment for tantalum, is calculated to be 6·1 barns±10 per cent.