Eur. Phys. J. A (2018) 54: 142
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

Abstract

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.