From precision nuclear structure information to constraining statistical properties: Methodical developments in photonuclear reactions

. - We report on a new method to perform nuclear self-absorption measurements in combination with a monochromatic photon beam produced via laser Compton backscattering. We have used the method for two very different applications: The precision determination of the transition width of the first excited state in 12C to the ground state and to determine nuclear level densities up to the neutron separation energy in 88Sr. Both experiments serve as a proof of principle and are currently being analyzed. First preliminary results are presented.