A modular solid state detector for measuring high energy heavy ion fragmentation near the beam axis

Area of Science:

• Nuclear Physics
• Particle Detection
• Radiation Physics

Background:

• High-energy heavy ion beams generate numerous fragments when interacting with thick targets.
• Accurate measurement of these fragments is crucial for understanding nuclear reactions and radiation environments.
• Existing detection methods may lack the necessary modularity and remote adjustability for diverse experimental conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and characterize a multi-element solid-state detector system for measuring fragment fluences from high-energy heavy ion beams.
• To develop a compact, modular detector that can be reconfigured for various fragment charges and energies.
• To enable remote, computer-controlled adjustments of detector settings and calibrations.

Main Methods:

• Design of a multi-element solid-state detector with modular components.
• Integration of associated detectors, electronics, and a triggering scheme.
• Implementation of remote, computer-controlled preamplifier gain settings and detector calibrations.
• Data acquisition and particle identification techniques were developed and tested.

Main Results:

• The detector system was successfully designed and implemented.
• Demonstrated capability to measure fragment fluences near the beam axis.
• Data acquisition and particle identification were validated using 600 MeV/u 56Fe beams and thick polyethylene targets.
• The detector's modularity and remote adjustability were confirmed.

Conclusions:

• The developed multi-element solid-state detector is effective for measuring fragment fluences in high-energy heavy ion experiments.
• The detector's design facilitates adaptability to different experimental requirements.
• This technology has significant potential applications in space radiation protection research.