The angular distribution of the 12C(γ,pn) reaction for Eγ=120−150 MeV

The angular distribution of nucleons emitted in the 12C(γ,pn) reaction has been measured using tagged photons at the Mainz microtron MAMI. The variation of the reaction strength with the polar angles of the two emitted nucleons is reported for Eγ=120−150 MeV. The proton angular distribution peaks at more backward angles than the 2H(γ,p) differential cross section indicating a departure from the simple quasi-deuteron model of 2N photo-emission. The distribution shape is in reasonable agreement with microscopic theoretical models which include both π- and ρ-exchange.