Nuclear level densities and γ-ray strength functions of 56,57Fe have been extracted from proton-γ coincidences. A low-energy enhancement in the γ-ray strength functions up to a factor of 30 over common theoretical E1 models is confirmed. Angular distributions of the low-energy enhancement in 57Fe indicate its dipole nature, in agreement with findings for 56Fe. The high statistics and the excellent energy resolution of the large-volume LaBr3(Ce) detectors allowed for a thorough analysis of γ strength as function of excitation energy. Taking into account the presence of strong Porter–Thomas fluctuations, there is no indication of any significant excitation energy dependence in the γ-ray strength function, in support of the generalized Brink–Axel hypothesis.

The level density and γ-ray strength function (γSF) of 243 Pu have been measured in the quasi-continuum using the Oslo method. Excited states in 243 Pu were populated using the 242 Pu(d, p) reaction. The level density closely follows the constant-temperature level density formula for excitation energies above the pairing gap. The γSF displays a double-humped resonance at low energy as also seen in previous investigations of actinide isotopes. The structure is interpreted as the scissors resonance and has a centroid of ω SR = 2.42(5) MeV and a total strength of B SR = 10.1(15) µ 2 N , which is in excellent agreement with sum-rule estimates. The measured level density and γSF were used to calculate the 242 Pu(n, γ) cross section in a neutron energy range for which there were previously no measured data.

Abstract. An excess of strength on the low-energy tail of the giant dipole resonance recently has been observed in the γ-decay from the quasicontinuum of 195,196 Pt. The nature of this phenomenon is not yet fully investigated. If this feature is present also in the γ-ray strength of the neutron-rich isotopes, it can affect the neutron-capture reactions involved in the formation of heavy-elements in stellar nucleosynthesis. The experimental level density and γ-ray strength function of 195,196 Pt are presented together with preliminary calculations of the corresponding neutron-capture cross sections.

A brief outlook on low-energy nuclear physics is presented. Selected recent developments in nuclear structure theory are highlighted and a few open questions are discussed.