Electromagnetic excitation of the two-phonon giant dipole resonance

Abstract The nuclear response of 136 Xe and 208 Pb to electromagnetic excitation was studied in peripheral, near-relativistic heavy-ion collisions. Large cross sections were observed for the one-phonon and two-phonon isovector giant dipole resonance. The results, in particular the unexpectedly large strength found for the double giant dipole resonance, are discussed and compared to that of other recent measurements.