  The experimental gamma-ray strength functions (gamma-SFs) of 142,144-151Nd
have been studied for gamma-ray energies up to the neutron separation energy.
The results represent a unique set of gamma-SFs for an isotopic chain with
increasing nuclear deformation. The data reveal how the low-energy enhancement,
the scissors mode and the pygmy dipole resonance evolve with nuclear
deformation and mass number. The data indicate that the mechanisms behind the
low-energy enhancement and the scissors mode are decoupled from each other.
