  The gamma-ray strength function for gamma energies in the 1-7 MeV region has
been measured for 161,162-Dy and 171,172-Yb using the (3-He,alpha gamma)
reaction. Various models are tested against the observed gamma-ray strength
functions. The best description is based on the Kadmenskii, Markushev and
Furman E1 model with constant temperature and the Lorentzian M1 model. A
gamma-ray bump observed at E_gamma=3 MeV is interpreted as the so-called pygmy
resonance, which has also been observed previously in (n,gamma) experiments.
The parameters for this resonance have been determined and compared to the
available systematics.

Nuclear Experiment