Institut fur˜ Kern und TeilchenphysikFakult˜at Mathematik und NaturwissenschaftenTechnische Universit˜at DresdenPhotodisintegration studies ofastrophysically relevant p-nucleiDissertationzur Erlangung desDoktorgrades der Naturwissenschaften(Doctor rerum naturalium)vorgelegt vonChithra Kumaran Nairgeboren am 7. April 1981 in Thrissur, Kerala, Indien1. Gutachter: Prof. Dr. E. Grosse, TU Dresden2.hter: Prof. Dr. A. G. Zilges, Universit˜at zu K˜olnEingereicht am 3. Juni 2009Verteidigt am 30. September 2009AbstractThe majority of the light elements up to iron (Fe) are formed by successive rounds of ther-monuclear fusion burning in the stellar interiors. The nuclei heavier than iron (Z>26) arebeing synthesized mainly by neutron-capture reactions - the astrophysical r-and s-processes.There are 35 neutron deflcient stable isotopes between Se and Hg which are shielded from therapid neutron capture by stable isobars. These so-called p-nuclei are produced in explosivestellar environments via photodisintegration reactions like (?,n), (?,p) and (?,fi) on r- or s-seed nuclei. The reaction rates of the p-nuclei are mostly based on theoretical parameteriza-tionsusingstatisticalmodelcalculations. Atthebremsstrahlungfacilityofthesuperconductingelectron accelerator ELBE, photon-induced reactions of the p-nuclei are being studied.