Avalanche Counter Research Articles

The experimental set-up of the RIB in-flight facility EXOTIC

We describe the experimental set-up of the Radioactive Ion Beam (RIB) in-flight facility EXOTIC consisting of: (a) two position-sensitive Parallel Plate Avalanche Counters (PPACs), dedicated to the event-by-event tracking of the produced RIBs and to time of flight measurements and (b) the new high-granularity compact telescope array EXPADES (EXotic PArticle DEtection System), designed for nuclear physics and nuclear astrophysics experiments employing low-energy light RIBs. EXPADES consists of eight ΔE–Eres telescopes arranged in a cylindrical configuration around the target. Each telescope is made up of two Double Sided Silicon Strip Detectors (DSSSDs) with a thickness of 40/60μm and 300μm for the ΔE and Eres layer, respectively. Additionally, eight ionization chambers were constructed to be used as an alternative ΔE stage or, in conjunction with the entire DSSSD array, to build up more complex triple telescopes. New low-noise multi-channel charge-sensitive preamplifiers and spectroscopy amplifiers, associated with constant fraction discriminators, peak-and-hold and Time to Amplitude Converter circuits were developed for the electronic readout of the ΔE stage. Application Specific Integrated Circuit-based electronics was employed for the treatment of the Eres signals. An 8-channel, 12-bit multi-sampling 50MHz Analog to Digital Converter, a Trigger Supervisor Board for handling the trigger signals of the whole experimental set-up and an ad hoc data acquisition system were also developed. The performance of the PPACs, EXPADES and of the associated electronics was obtained offline with standard α calibration sources and in-beam by measuring the scattering process for the systems 17O+58Ni and 17O+208Pb at incident energies around their respective Coulomb barriers and, successively, during the first experimental runs with the RIBs of the EXOTIC facility.

Evidence of dynamical dipole excitation in the fusion-evaporation of theCa40+Sm152heavy system

The excitation of the dynamical dipole mode along the fusion path was investigated for the first time in the formation of a heavy compound nucleus in the A∼190 mass region. The compound nucleus was formed at identical conditions of excitation energy and spin from two entrance channels: the charge-asymmetric Ca40+Sm152 and the nearly charge-symmetric Ca48+Sm144 at Elab=11 and 10.1 MeV/nucleon, respectively. High-energy γ rays and light charged particles were measured in coincidence with evaporation residues by means of the MEDEA multidetector array (Laboratori Nazionali del Sud, Italy) coupled to four parallel plate avalanche counters. The charged particle multiplicity spectra and angular distributions were used to pin down the average excitation energy, the average mass, and the average charge of the compound nucleus. The γ-ray multiplicity spectrum and angular distribution related to the nearly charge-symmetric channel were employed to obtain new data on the giant dipole resonance in the compound nucleus. The dynamical dipole mode excitation in the charge-asymmetric channel was evidenced, in a model-independent way, by comparing the γ-ray multiplicity spectra and angular distributions of the two entrance channels with each other. Calculations of the dynamical dipole mode in the Ca40+Sm152 channel, based on a collective bremsstrahlung analysis of the reaction dynamics, are presented. Possible interesting implications in the superheavy-element quest are discussed.2 MoreReceived 19 January 2016DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.93.044619©2016 American Physical SocietyPhysics Subject Headings (PhySH)Research AreasCollective levelsLow & intermediate energy heavy-ion reactionsTechniquesNuclear reactionsNuclear Physics

Absolute measurement of thePu242neutron-capture cross section

The absolute neutron-capture cross section of $^{242}\mathrm{Pu}$ was measured at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center using the Detector for Advanced Neutron-Capture Experiments array along with a compact parallel-plate avalanche counter for fission-fragment detection. The first direct measurement of the $^{242}\mathrm{Pu}(n,\ensuremath{\gamma})$ cross section was made over the incident neutron energy range from thermal to $\ensuremath{\approx}6$ keV, and the absolute scale of the $(n,\ensuremath{\gamma})$ cross section was set according to the known $^{239}\mathrm{Pu}(n,f)$ resonance at ${E}_{n,R}=7.83$ eV. This was accomplished by adding a small quantity of $^{239}\mathrm{Pu}$ to the $^{242}\mathrm{Pu}$ sample. The relative scale of the cross section, with a range of four orders of magnitude, was determined for incident neutron energies from thermal to $\ensuremath{\approx}40$ keV. Our data, in general, are in agreement with previous measurements and those reported in ENDF/B-VII.1; the $^{242}\mathrm{Pu}(n,\ensuremath{\gamma})$ cross section at the ${E}_{n,R}=2.68$ eV resonance is within $2.4%$ of the evaluated value. However, discrepancies exist at higher energies; our data are $\ensuremath{\approx}30%$ lower than the evaluated data at ${E}_{n}\ensuremath{\approx}1$ keV and are approximately $2\ensuremath{\sigma}$ away from the previous measurement at ${E}_{n}\ensuremath{\approx}20$ keV.

Measurements of secondary scintillation in low-pressure CF4 with a SiPM, from a parallel-plate avalanche geometry

In this work we report and discuss the characterization of the secondary scintillation light emitted by low-pressure tetrafluoromethane (CF4) during avalanche gas processes. The experimental setup consists of a Parallel Plate Avalanche Counter (PPAC) irradiated by 5.5 MeV alpha particles from a collimated 241-Am source. The PPAC is operated in CF4 at pressures ranging from 5 to 50 torr. The electroluminescence light is readout by a VUV-sensitive Multi-Pixel Photon Counter (MPPC, Hamamatsu), placed along the PPAC axial direction. The secondary scintillation yield at different operational pressures was computed from the correlation between avalanche charge and electroluminesce light, recorded on an event-by-event basis; it was found to be in the range of 0.01–0.15 photons/electron depending on the reduced field applied between the PPAC electrodes. The role of the quencher impurities is also briefly discussed. In addition, the coincidence resolving times (CRT) for 5.5 MeV α -particles crossing the PPAC has been measured; time resolutions of 600 picosecond were achieved at different pressures.

Measurement of the equilibrium charge state distributions of Ni, Co, and Cu beams in Mo at 2 MeV/u: Review and evaluation of the relevant semi-empirical models

Equilibrium charge state distributions of stable 60Ni, 59Co, and 63Cu beams passing through a 1μm thick Mo foil were measured at beam energies of 1.84MeV/u, 2.09MeV/u, and 2.11MeV/u respectively. A 1-D position sensitive Parallel Grid Avalanche Counter detector (PGAC) was used at the exit of a spectrograph magnet, enabling us to measure the intensity of several charge states simultaneously. The number of charge states measured for each beam constituted more than 99% of the total equilibrium charge state distribution for that element. Currently, little experimental data exists for equilibrium charge state distributions for heavy ions with 19≲Zp,Zt≲54 (Zp and Zt, are the projectile’s and target’s atomic numbers respectively). Hence the success of the semi-empirical models in predicting typical characteristics of equilibrium CSDs (mean charge states and distribution widths), has not been thoroughly tested at the energy region of interest. A number of semi-empirical models from the literature were evaluated in this study, regarding their ability to reproduce the characteristics of the measured charge state distributions. The evaluated models were selected from the literature based on whether they are suitable for the given range of atomic numbers and on their frequent use by the nuclear physics community. Finally, an attempt was made to combine model predictions for the mean charge state, the distribution width and the distribution shape, to come up with a more reliable model. We discuss this new “combinatorial” prescription and compare its results with our experimental data and with calculations using the other semi-empirical models studied in this work.

CHICO2, a two-dimensional pixelated parallel-plate avalanche counter

CHICO2 (Compact Heavy Ion COunter), is a large solid-angle, charged-particle detector array developed to provide both θ and ϕ angle resolutions matching those of GRETINA (Gamma-Ray Energy Tracking In-beam Nuclear Array). CHICO2 was successfully tested at the Argonne National Laboratory where it was fielded as an auxiliary detector with GRETINA for γ-ray spectroscopic studies of nuclei using a 252Cf spontaneous fission source, stable beams, and radioactive beams from CARIBU. In field tests of the 72,76Ge beams on a 0.5mg/cm2208Pb target at the sub-barrier energy, CHICO2 provided charged-particle angle resolutions (FWHM) of 1.55° in θ and 2.47° in ϕ. This achieves the design goal for both coordinates assuming a beam-spot size (>3mm) and the target thickness (>0.5mg/cm2). The combined angular resolution of GRETINA/CHICO2 resulted in a Doppler-shift corrected energy resolution of 0.60% for 1MeV coincident de-excitation γ-rays. This is nearly a factor of two improvements in resolution and sensitivity compared to Gammasphere/CHICO. Kinematically-coincident detection of scattered ions by CHICO2 still maintains the mass resolution (ΔM/M) of ~5% that enhanced isolation of scattered weak beams of interest from scattered contaminant beams.

Total promptγ-ray emission in fission

The total prompt γ-ray energy distributions were measured for the neutron-induced fission of 235 U, 239,241 Pu at incident neutron energy of 0.025 eV–100 keV, and the spontaneous fission of 252 Cf using the Detector for Advanced Neutron Capture Experiments (DANCE) array in coincidence with the detection of fission fragments by a parallel-plate avalanche counter. Corrections were made to the measured distribution by unfolding the two-dimension spectrum of total prompt γ-ray energy vs multiplicity using a simulated DANCE response matrix. A summary of this work is presented with the emphasis on the comparison of total prompt fission γ-ray energy between our results and previous ones. The mean values of the total prompt γ-ray energy ⟨Eγ,tot⟩, determined from the unfolded distributions, are ∼20% higher than those derived from measurements using single γ-ray detector for all the fissile nuclei studied.

Fission Fragment Angular Distribution measurements of235U and238U at CERN n_TOF facility

Neutron-induced fission cross sections of 238U and 235U are used as standards in the fast neutron region up to 200 MeV. A high accuracy of the standards is relevant to experimentally determine other neutron reaction cross sections. Therefore, the detection effciency should be corrected by using the angular distribution of the fission fragments (FFAD), which are barely known above 20 MeV. In addition, the angular distribution of the fragments produced in the fission of highly excited and deformed nuclei is an important observable to investigate the nuclear fission process.In order to measure the FFAD of neutron-induced reactions, a fission detection setup based on parallel-plate avalanche counters (PPACs) has been developed and successfully used at the CERN-n_TOF facility. In this work, we present the preliminary results on the analysis of new 235 U(n,f) and 238 U(n,f) data in the extended energy range up to 200 MeV compared to the existing experimental data.

A multiple parallel-plate avalanche counter for fission-fragment detection

A new low-mass multiple gas-filled parallel-plate avalanche counter for the fission-fragment detection has been developed to mark the fission occurrence in measurements of the prompt fission neutron energy spectrum as a function of incident neutron energy. It was used successfully for the neutron-induced fission of 235U and 239Pu with a total mass near 100mg each and the spontaneous fission of 252Cf. Both the incident neutron energy and the prompt fission neutron energy are measured by using the time-of-flight method. The design and performance of this avalanche counter are described.

Designing an upgrade of the Medley setup for light-ion production and fission cross-section measurements

Measurements of neutron-induced fission cross-sections and light-ion production are planned in the energy range 1–40MeV at the upcoming Neutrons For Science (NFS) facility. In order to prepare our detector setup for the neutron beam with continuous energy spectrum, a simulation software was written using the Geant4 toolkit for both measurement situations. The neutron energy range around 20MeV is troublesome when it comes to the cross-sections used by Geant4 since data-driven cross-sections are only available below 20MeV but not above, where they are based on semi-empirical models. Several customisations were made to the standard classes in Geant4 in order to produce consistent results over the whole simulated energy range.Expected uncertainties are reported for both types of measurements. The simulations have shown that a simultaneous precision measurement of the three standard cross-sections H(n,n), 235U(n,f) and 238U(n,f) relative to each other is feasible using a triple layered target. As high resolution timing detectors for fission fragments we plan to use Parallel Plate Avalanche Counters (PPACs). The simulation results have put some restrictions on the design of these detectors as well as on the target design. This study suggests a fissile target no thicker than 2μm (1.7mg/cm2) and a PPAC foil thickness preferably less than 1μm. We also comment on the usability of Geant4 for simulation studies of neutron reactions in this energy range.

The LANL/LLNL Prompt Fission Neutron Spectrum Program at LANSCE and Approach to Uncertainties

New data on the prompt fission neutron spectra (PFNS) from neutron-induced fission with higher accuracies are needed to resolve discrepancies in the literature and to address gaps in the experimental data. The Chi-Nu project, conducted jointly by LANL and LLNL, aims to measure the shape of the PFNS for fission of 239Pu induced by neutrons from 0.5 to 20 MeV with accuracies of 3–5% in the outgoing energy from 0.1 to 9 MeV and 15% from 9 to 12 MeV and to provide detailed experimental uncertainties. Neutrons from the WNR/LANSCE neutron source are being used to induce fission in a Parallel-Plate Avalanche Counter (PPAC). Two arrays of neutron detectors are used to cover the energy range of neutrons emitted promptly in the fission process. Challenges for the present experiment include background reduction, use of 239Pu in a PPAC, and understanding neutron detector response. Achieving the target accuracies requires the understanding of many systematic uncertainties. The status and plans for the future will be presented.

Space-charge effects of positive ions on the development of pulses in parallel-plate avalanche counters

The effects of the space-charge of positive ions on the development of α-particle induced pulses in a parallel-plate avalanche counter (PPAC) were studied by using pulse-shape analysis techniques. The analyses were separately carried out on the electron and the positive ion components of the pulses, reflecting the space-charge effects during and after the multiplication of charges in an external uniform electric field. Some calculations of the space-charge electric field and the first Townsend coefficient were carried out to explain the experimental waveforms. The dependence of the shape of the pulses to the amount of primary ionization is particularly discussed.

Total prompt γ -ray emission in fission of U235 , Pu239,241 , and Cf252

The total prompt $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray energy distributions for the neutron-induced fission of $^{235}\mathrm{U}$ and $^{239,241}\mathrm{Pu}$ in the neutron energy range of 0.025 eV -- 100 keV and the spontaneous fission of $^{252}\mathrm{Cf}$ were measured using the Detector for Advanced Neutron Capture Experiments (DANCE) in coincidence with the detection of fission fragments by a parallel-plate avalanche counter. DANCE is a highly segmented, highly efficient 4$\ensuremath{\pi}$ $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray calorimeter. Corrections were made to the measured distribution by unfolding the two-dimension spectrum of total $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray energy vs multiplicity using a simulated DANCE response matrix generated with a geometrical model of the detector arrays and validated with the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray calibration sources. The mean values of the total prompt $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray energy, determined from the unfolded distributions, are $\ensuremath{\sim}$20% higher than those of early measurements for all the fissile nuclei studied. The implication for the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ heating in nuclear reactors is discussed.

Pulse-Shape Discrimination of Alpha Particles of Different Specific Energy-Loss With Parallel-Plate Avalanche Counters

Parallel-plate avalanche counters have long been recognized as timing detectors for heavily ionizing particles. However, these detectors suffer from a poor pulse-height resolution which limits their capability to discriminate between different ionizing particles. In this paper, a new approach for discriminating between charged particles of different specific energy-loss with avalanche counters is demonstrated. We show that the effect of the self-induced space-charge in parallel-plate avalanche counters leads to a strong correlation between the shape of output current pulses and the amount of primary ionization created by the incident charged particles. The correlation is then exploited for the discrimination of charged particles with different energy-losses in the detector. The experimental results obtained with α-particles from an <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">241</sup> Am α-source demonstrate a discrimination capability far beyond that achievable with the standard pulse-height discrimination method.

Measuring Light-ion Production and Fission Cross Sections Normalised to H(n,p) Scattering at the Upcoming NFS Facility

The Medley detector setup is planned to be moved to and used at the new neutron facility NFS where measurements of light-ion production and fission cross-sections are planned at 1-40 MeV. Medley has eight detector telescopes providing ΔE-ΔE-E data, each consisting of two silicon detectors and a CsI(Tl) detector at the back. The telescope setup can be rotated and arranged to cover any angle. Medley has previously been used in many measurements at The Svedberg Laboratory (TSL) in Uppsala mainly with a quasi-mono-energetic neutron beam at 96 and 175 MeV. To be able to do measurements at NFS, which will have a white neutron beam, Medley needs to detect the reaction products with a high timing resolution providing the ToF of the primary neutron. In this paper we discuss the design of the Medley upgrade along with simulations of the setup. We explore the use of Parallel Plate Avalanche Counters (PPACs) which work very well for detecting fission fragments but require more consideration for detecting deeply penetrating particles.

Fission Fragment Angular Distribution of 232Th(n,f) at the CERN n_TOF Facility

The angular distribution of fragments emitted in neutron-induced fission of 232Th was measured in the white spectrum neutron beam at the n_TOF facility at CERN. A reaction chamber based on Parallel Plate Avalanche Counters (PPAC) was used, where the detectors and the targets have been tilted 45∘ with respect to the neutron beam direction in order to cover the full angular range of the fission fragments. A GEANT4 simulation has been developed to study the setup efficiency. The data analysis and the preliminary results obtained for the 232Th(n,f) between fission threshold and 100 MeV are presented here.

Prompt Fission γ-rays Measured Using Liquid Scintillators

The prompt γ-ray spectra from 235U(n,f) at incident energies of 1 to 20 MeV and for 235Cf(s.f.) were measured up to 4 MeV in coincidence with two parallel plate avalanche counters and the liquid scintillator array FIGARO. The unfolded γ-ray spectra from 1–4 MeV using the single value decomposition and iterative Bayesian techniques for the incident neutron energy regions corresponding to the first, second and third chance fissions were found to nearly identical and similar to the distribution from the spontaneous fission of 252Cf. General agreement with the γ-ray distributions from fission was also found with previous measurements.

Improved neutron capture cross section ofPu239

The Pu($n,\ensuremath{\gamma}$) cross section has been measured over the energy range 10 eV to 1 keV using the Detector for Advanced Neutron Capture Experiments (DANCE) at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center as part of a campaign to produce precision ($n,\ensuremath{\gamma}$) measurements on Pu. Fission coincidences were measured with a parallel-plate avalanche counter and used to measure the prompt fission $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray spectrum in this region to accurately characterize background. The resulting ($n,\ensuremath{\gamma}$) cross section is generally in agreement with current evaluations. The experimental method utilizes much more detailed information than past measurements on Pu and can be used to extend the measurement to higher incident neutron energies.

Measurement of the angular distribution of fission fragments using a PPAC assembly at CERN n_TOF

A fission reaction chamber based on Parallel Plate Avalanche Counters (PPACs) was built for measuring angular distributions of fragments emitted in neutron-induced fission of actinides at the neutron beam available at the Neutron Time-Of-Flight (n_TOF) facility at CERN. The detectors and the samples were tilted 45° with respect to the neutron beam direction to cover all the possible values of the emission angle of the fission fragments. The main features of this setup are discussed and results on the fission fragment angular distribution are provided for the 232Th(n,f) reaction around the fission threshold. The results are compared with the available data in the literature, demonstrating the good capabilities of this setup.

A new fission-fragment detector to complement the CACTUS-SiRi setup at the Oslo Cyclotron Laboratory

An array of Parallel Plate Avalanche Counters (PPAC) for the detection of heavy ions has been developed. The new device, NIFF (Nuclear Instrument for Fission Fragments), consists of four individual detectors and covers 60% of 2π. It was designed to be used in conjunction with the SiRi array of ΔE−E silicon telescopes for light charged particles and fits into the CACTUS array of 28 large-volume NaI scintillation detectors at the Oslo Cyclotron Laboratory. The low-pressure gas-filled PPACs are sensitive for the detection of fission fragments, but are insensitive to scattered beam particles of light ions or light-ion ejectiles. The PPAC detectors of NIFF have good time resolution and can be used either to select or to veto fission events in in-beam experiments with light-ion beams and actinide targets. The powerful combination of SiRi, CACTUS, and NIFF provides new research opportunities for the study of nuclear structure and nuclear reactions in the actinide region. The new setup is particularly well suited to study the competition of fission and γ decay as a function of excitation energy.