On Activation Studies of Photonuclear Reactions on γ -Beams from Backward Compton Scattering at E_γ≤ 40 MeV

Proposed as initial activation experiments for photonuclear research with γ -quanta at energies E_γ≤ 40 MeV are those using a source of backward Compton scattered laser radiation on accelerated electrons, which is currently under development. These experiments are crucial both for refining the techniques of tuning and monitoring such γ -beams, and for investigating the excitation of pygmy and giant resonances in nuclei at E_γ near the threshold of the ( γ,n ) reactions, as well as the multiplicity of photoneutrons during the de-excitation of E1 giant resonances at E_γ above the threshold of the ( γ,2n ) reactions.