Precision Cross Section Measurement for the $^{241}$Am($\gamma$,$n$) Reaction at HI$\gamma$S

The photodisintegration cross section on radioactive $^{241}$Am target has been measured for the first time using monoenergetic $\gamma$-ray beams from the HI$\gamma$S facility. Induced activity from $^{240}$Am produced via the ($\gamma$,$n$) reaction was measured by the activation technique using high resolution HPGe detectors. The ($\gamma$,$n$) cross section was determined both by measuring the absolute $\gamma$-flux and by comparison to the $^{197}$Au($\gamma$,$n$) cross section used as a standard. In the following, we report new data for the excitation function of the $^{241}$Am($\gamma$,$n$ ) reaction from near threshold to 16 MeV incident $\gamma$-ray energy and we compare the data with statistical nuclear-model calculations performed with the GNASH, EMPIRE, and TALYS codes.