O16(γ,n) reaction at intermediate energy

Measurements of the reaction ${}_{}{}^{16}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$(γ,n), made with tagged photons at ${\mathit{E}}_{\gamma }$∼58 MeV, are presented. Neutron energy determination was by time of flight, giving a resolution of ∼2 MeV which enabled the ground-state excitation in ${}_{}{}^{15}{}_{}{}^{}\mathrm{O}$ to be resolved from states at 5.2 and 6.2 MeV. Differential cross sections were measured in the angular range 30°–110° and are compared with the predictions of a microscopic, self-consistent Hartree-Fock, random phase approximation model of (γ,N) reactions. The implications for the theoretical description are discussed, notably the dependence of the (γ,n) cross section on meson exchange currents and final-state rescattering.