https://doi.org/10.1140/epja/i2018-12575-5
Special Article - New Tools and Techniques
Development of a two-stage detection array for low-energy light charged particles in nuclear astrophysics applications
1
INFN, Sezione di Napoli, Complesso Universitario MSA, via Cintia snc, I-80126, Napoli, Italy
2
SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
3
Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, Università della Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Caserta, Italy
4
Department of Diagnostic Methodologies and Measurement Techniques, Italian Aerospace Research Centre (CIRA), Capua (CE), Italy
5
Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Napoli “Federico II”, Napoli, Italy
6
Departamento de Fisica Nuclear, Instituto de Fisica da Universidade de São Paolo, São Paolo, Brazil
7
Dipartimento di Fisica e Geologia, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
8
INFN, Sezione di Perugia, Perugia, Italy
* e-mail: romoli@na.infn.it
Received:
6
March
2018
Accepted:
13
July
2018
Published online:
30
August
2018
A new detection array called GASTLY (GAs-Silicon Two-Layer sYstem) has been designed to detect and identify low-energy light particles emitted in nuclear reactions of astrophysical interest. Devoted to the measurement of nanobarn cross-sections, the system is optimised for large solid angle coverage and for low-energy detection thresholds. The array consists of eight modules, each comprising an ionisation chamber and a large area silicon strip detector. Its modularity and versatility allow for use in a variety of experiments. Here we report on the performance of the array as obtained during its commissioning phase with standard -particle sources and during in-beam tests with an intense 12C beam. Typical energy resolutions
of about 3% and 2% were obtained for the ionisation chambers and the silicon detectors, respectively. The status of the development of individual strip readout, based on ASIC technology, is also presented.
© SIF, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature, 2018