MuSIC@Indiana: An effective tool for accurate measurement of fusion with low-intensity radioactive beams

Abstract

The design, construction, and characterization of the Multi-Sampling Ionization Chamber, MuSIC@Indiana, are described. This detector provides efficient and accurate measurement of the fusion cross-section at near-barrier energies. The response of the detector to low-intensity beams of 17,18O, 19F, 23Na, 24,26Mg, 27Al, and 28Si at Elab=50–60 MeV was examined. MuSIC@Indiana was commissioned by measuring the 18O+12C fusion excitation function for 11 < Ecm< 20 MeV using CH4 gas. A simple, effective analysis cleanly distinguishes proton capture and two-body scattering events from fusion on carbon. With MuSIC@Indiana, measurement of 15 points on the excitation function for a single incident beam energy is achieved. The resulting excitation function is shown to be in good agreement with literature data.