Radiative Capture and Preequilibrium γ Emission

We review theory of preequilibrium γ emission and discuss its applications in radiative capture as induced by nucleons in the energy range ≊10 MeV–200 MeV. Two mechanisms of γ emission during preequilibrium cascade can be distinguished. Single particle radiative transitions dominate the spectral energy range of giant resonances. This is discussed in terms of the preequilibrium exciton and hybrid models as well as the quantum‐mechanical multistep compound model. Emission of hard photons is dominated by two‐particle quasi‐deuteron radiative mechanism as discussed in terms of the preequilibrium hybrid model.