Correlations between (n,γ) and (d,p) reactions on N=82 nuclei

The measured strengths of excitation in the (n, gamma ) and (d,p) reactions on the N=82 nuclei 138 Ba, 140 Ce and 142 Nd are compared and it is found that they are strongly correlated for 138 Ba and 140 Ce but not for 142 Nd. The results for 138 Ba and 140 Ce may be explained in terms of the common unique parent assumption of Lane and Wilkinson. This suggests the predominance of direct capture in the thermal neutron cross section for these nuclei, whereas the 142 Nd cross section is thought to be largely due to compound nucleus formation as is the general rule.