Astrophysically Relevant Neutron Capture near the Border of Stability

The neutron capture cross section on $^{26}$Mg was measured in the astrophysically relevant energy region from 25 keV to 220 keV. The experimental results agree well with a calculation using the Direct Capture (DC) model together with systematic folding potentials. This experiment confirms for the $^{26}$Mg(n,$\gamma$)$^{27}$Mg reaction that the DC process is at least comparable to the Compound--Nucleus (CN) process. The reliability of DC calculations is discussed, and we present some ideas for future experiments which could reduce the theoretical uncertainties of DC calculations.