Evidence for direct neutron decay of the isoscalar giant dipole resonances in Zr-90, Sn-116, and Pb-208

The direct and statistical neutron decay of the isoscalar giant dipole resonance was studied in Zr-90, Sn-116, and Pb-208 using the (alpha,alpha(')n) reaction at a bombarding energy of 200 MeV. The spectra of fast decay neutrons populating valence hole-states of the Z,N-1 nuclei were analyzed, and estimates for the branching ratios were determined. The results were compared to recent continuum random-phase approximation calculations.