Comment on “Structure effects in theN15(n,γ)N16radiative capture reaction from the Coulomb dissociation ofN16”

Abstract

In their recent study Neelam, Shubhchintak, and Chatterjee have claimed that ``it would certainly be useful to perform a Coulomb dissociation experiment to find the low-energy capture cross section for the reaction'' $^{15}\mathrm{N}$($n,\ensuremath{\gamma}$)$^{16}\mathrm{N}$. However, it is obvious that a Coulomb dissociation experiment cannot constrain this capture cross section because the dominating branchings of the capture reaction lead to excited states in $^{16}\mathrm{N}$, which do not contribute in a Coulomb dissociation experiment. An estimate of the total $^{15}\mathrm{N}$($n,\ensuremath{\gamma}$)$^{16}\mathrm{N}$ cross section from Coulomb dissociation of $^{16}\mathrm{N}$ requires a precise knowledge of the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray branchings in the capture reaction. Surprisingly, the calculation of Neelam, Shubhchintak, and Chatterjee predicts a strongly energy-dependent ground-state branching of the order of 0.05% to 0.6% at energies between 100 and 500 keV, which is almost 2 orders of magnitude below calculations in the direct capture model. Additionally, this calculation of Neelam, Shubhchintak, and Chatterjee deviates significantly from the expected energy dependence for $p$-wave capture.