Eur. Phys. J. A (2014) 50: 47
https://doi.org/10.1140/epja/i2014-14047-4

Review

The FAZIA project in Europe: R&D phase

¹ LPC Caen, ENSICAEN, Université de Caen, CNRS-IN2P3, F-14050, Caen cedex, France
² Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Firenze, via G.Sansone 1, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
³ INFN, Sezione di Firenze, via G.Sansone 1, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
⁴ Institut de Physique Nucléaire, CNRS/IN2P3, Université Paris-Sud 11, F-91406, Orsay cedex, France
⁵ GANIL, CEA/DSM-CNRS/IN2P3, B.P. 5027, F-14076, Caen cedex, France
⁶ Horia Hulubei National Institute of Physics and Nuclear Engineering (IFIN-HH), RO-077125, Bucharest Măgurele, Romania
⁷ Jagiellonian University, Institute of Physics, ul. Reymonta 4, 30-059, Krakow, Poland
⁸ INFN, Laboratori Nazionali del Sud, Via S. Sofia 62, 95125, Catania, Italy
⁹ Departamento de Fisica Aplicada, FCCEE Universidad de Huelva, 21071, Huelva, Spain
¹⁰ INFN, LNL Legnaro, viale dellUniversità 2, 35020, Legnaro, Italy
¹¹ Science and Art Faculty, Physics Department, Nevsehir Haci Bektas University, Nevsehir, Turkey
¹² INFN - Sezione di Napoli, Complesso Universitario di Monte S. Angelo, via Cinthia, 80126, Napoli, Italy
¹³ Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Napoli “Federico II”, Complesso Universitario di Monte S. Angelo, via Cinthia, 80126, Napoli, Italy
¹⁴ Istituto SPIN - CNR, Complesso Universitario di Monte S. Angelo, via Cinthia, 80126, Napoli, Italy
¹⁵ Dipartimento di Informatica e Sistemistica, Università di Napoli “Federico II”, via Claudio 21, 80125, Napoli, Italy
¹⁶ Dipartimento di Fisica ed Astronomia, Università di Bologna, INFN, Sezione di Bologna, Via Irnerio 46, I-40126, Bologna, Italy
¹⁷ INFN, Sezione di Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, I-40127, Bologna, Italy
¹⁸ August Chełlkowski Institute of Physics, University of Silesia, ul. Uniwersytecka 4, 40-007, Katowice, Poland
¹⁹ Heavy Ion Laboratory, University of Warsaw, ul. Pasteura 5A, 02-093, Warsaw, Poland
²⁰ Institute of Nuclear Physics PAN, ul. Radzikowskiego 152, 31-342, Krakow, Poland
²¹ Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, F-75141, Paris, France

^* e-mail: bougault@lpccaen.in2p3.fr

Received: 9 December 2013
Revised: 3 February 2014
Accepted: 12 February 2014
Published online: 27 February 2014

Abstract

The goal of the FAZIA Collaboration is the design of a new-generation 4π detector array for heavy-ion collisions with radioactive beams. This article summarizes the main results of the R&D phase, devoted to the search for significant improvements of the techniques for charge and mass identification of reaction products. This was obtained by means of a systematic study of the basic detection module, consisting of two transmission-mounted silicon detectors followed by a CsI(Tl) scintillator. Significant improvements in ΔE-E and pulse-shape techniques were obtained by controlling the doping homogeneity and the cutting angles of silicon and by putting severe constraints on thickness uniformity. Purposely designed digital electronics contributed to identification quality. The issue of possible degradation related to radiation damage of silicon was also addressed. The experimental activity was accompanied by studies on the physics governing signal evolution in silicon. The good identification quality obtained with the prototypes during the R&D phase, allowed us to investigate also some aspects of isospin physics, namely isospin transport and odd-even staggering. Now, after the conclusion of the R&D period, the FAZIA Collaboration has entered the demonstrator phase, with the aim of verifying the applicability of the devised solutions for the realization of a larger-scale experimental set-up.