Continuum dipole response near the threshold and the direct neutron capture cross section at astrophysical energies

Abstract

We apply the continuum quasiparticle random phase approximation to calculate the direct neutron capture cross section relevant to the r-process nucleo-synthesis. The electric dipole strength function in an even-even n-rich nucleus is decomposed with respect to the channels of direct neutron decays. Using the detailed balance relation, the partial dipole strengths are converted to obtain the direct neutron-capture cross sections. Numerical examples are given for 142Sn.