Nuclear Studies with Neutron-Capture $\gamma$ Rays

Thermal neutron-capture $\gamma$ rays have found applications in a variety of nuclear reaction studies requiring $\gamma$ rays in the energy region up to 11 MeV. The importance of these $\gamma$-ray sources is that they provide very high intensities, which exceed by two orders of magnitude the intensities per unit energy interval obtainable from other sources. The experiments performed with these sources are reviewed in this article, and the advantages and disadvantages of the method are discussed.