The neutron direct radiative capture (DRC) process is investigated,
highlighting the role of incident p-wave neutrons. A set of calculations is
shown for the 12-C(n,gamma) process at incoming neutron energies up to 500 keV,
a crucial region for astrophysics. The cross section for neutron capture
leading to loosely bound s, p and d orbits of 13-C is well reproduced by the
DRC model demonstrating the feasibility of using this reaction channel to study
the properties of nuclear wave functions on and outside the nuclear surface. A
sensitivity analysis of the results on the neutron-nucleus interaction is
performed for incident s- as well as p-waves. It turned out that the DRC cross
section for p-wave neutrons is insensitive to this interaction, contrary to the
case of incident s-wave neutrons.
PACS number(s): 25.40Lw,21.10Gv,23.40.HcComment: 16 pages, REVTeX file, PostScript file, .dvi fil
