  The level density and gamma-ray strength function in the quasi-continuum of
238Np has been measured using the Oslo method. The level density function
follows closely the constant-temperature level density formula and reaches 43
million levels per MeV at Sn = 5.488 MeV of excitation energy. The gamma-ray
strength function displays a two-humped resonance at low-energy as also seen in
previous investigations of Th, Pa and U isotopes. The structure is interpreted
as the scissors resonance and has an average centroid of wSR = 2.26(5) MeV and
a total strength of BSR = 10.8(12)m2N, which is in excellent agreement with
sum-rule estimates. The scissors resonance is shown to have an impact on the
237Np(n; g)238Np cross section.
