Deuteron photodisintegration with polarized photons at astrophysical energies

Abstract

Following precise experimental studies at the Duke Free-Electron Laser Laboratory, we discuss photodisintegration of deuterons with 100% linearly polarized photons using a model independent theoretical approach taking together $M1$ and $E1$ amplitudes simultaneously. The isoscalar $M1_s$ contribution is also taken exactly into account. From the existing experimental measurement on doubly polarized thermal neutron capture, it is seen that the isoscalar $M1_s$ contribution could be of the same order of magnitude as the experimentally measured cross sections at energies relevant to Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN). Therefore appropriate measurements on deuteron photodisintegration are suggested to empirically determine the $M1_s$ contribution at astrophysical energies.