First application of the Oslo method in inverse kinematics

The γ -ray strength function ( γ SF) and nuclear level density (NLD) have been extracted for the first time from inverse kinematic reactions with the Oslo method. This novel technique allows measurements of these properties across a wide range of previously inaccessible nuclei. Proton– γ coincidence events from the d ( 86 Kr , p γ ) 87 Kr reaction were measured at iThemba LABS and the γ SF and NLD in 87 Kr was obtained. The low-energy region of the γ SF is compared to shell-model calculations, which suggest this region to be dominated by M1 strength. The γ SF and NLD are used as input parameters to Hauser–Feshbach calculations to constrain ( n , γ ) cross sections of nuclei using the TALYS reaction code. These results are compared to 86 Kr ( n , γ ) data from direct measurements.