A. Grzeszczuk

Particle identification method in the CsI(Tl) scintillator used for the CHIMERA 4π detector

Abstract The charged particle identification obtained by the analysis of signals coming from the CsI(Tl) detectors of the CHIMERA 4 π heavy-ion detector is presented. A simple double-gate integration method, with the use of the cyclotron radiofrequency as reference time, results in low thresholds for isotopic particle identification. The dependence of the identification quality on the gate generation timing is discussed. Isotopic identification of light ions up to Beryllium is clearly seen. For the first time also the identification of Z =5 particles is observed. The identification of neutrons interacting with CsI(Tl) by ( n , α ) and ( n , γ ) reactions is also discussed.

Mass and charge identification of fragments detected with the Chimera Silicon-CsI(Tl) telescopes

Abstract Mass and charge identification of charged products detected with Silicon–CsI(Tl) telescopes of the Chimera apparatus are presented. An identification function, based on the Bethe–Bloch formula, is used to fit empirical correlations between Δ E and E ADC readings, in order to determine, event by event, the atomic and mass numbers of the detected charged reaction products prior to energy calibration.

Isotope correlations as a probe for freeze-out characterization: central124Sn+64Ni,112Sn+58Ni collisions

Abstract 124 Sn+ 64 Ni and 112 Sn+ 58 Ni reactions at 35 AMeV incident energy were studied with the forward part of CHIMERA multi-detector. The most central collisions were selected by means of a multidimensional analysis. The characteristics of the source formed in the central collisions, as size, temperature and volume, were inspected. The measured isotopes of light fragments (3 ⩽ Z ⩽ 8) were used to examine isotope yield ratios that provide information on the free neutron to proton densities.

Kinematical coincidence method in transfer reactions

Abstract A new method to extract high resolution angular distributions from kinematical coincidence measurements in binary reactions is presented. Kinematics is used to extract the center of mass angular distribution from the measured energy spectrum of light particles. Results obtained in the case of 10Be+p→9Be+d reaction measured with the CHIMERA detector are shown. An angular resolution of few degrees in the center of mass is obtained. The range of applicability of the method is discussed.

DYNAMICAL EVOLUTION OF THE 197Au + 197Au SYSTEM AT 15 MeV/NUCLEON

Collisions of a very heavy 197Au + 197Au system have been studied at an energy of 15 MeV/nucleon with the aim to investigate a possible change of the energy dissipation mechanism from one-body dissipation (presumably dominating at low excitation energies) to two-body dissipation. The experiment was carried out in 4π geometry using the CHIMERA multidetector array. A class of ternary events satisfying nearly complete balance of mass numbers was selected. Preliminary results suggest that the selected ternary events represent mostly prompt ternary partitions of the colliding system, in which the lightest fragment is quite massive. In the light of theoretical predictions of Cârjan, Sierk and Nix this result may imply that the observed ternary reactions are driven by the two-body dissipation mechanism already at 15 MeV/nucleon.

LIGHT CLUSTERS EMISSION IN NUCLEAR REACTIONS AT 25 MeV/NUCLEON WITH DIFFERENT N/Z OF ENTRANCE CHANNELS

We discuss results on the emission of light clusters in nuclear reactions 40Ca + 40,48Ca,46Ti at 25 MeV/nucleon. They were detected and identified in mass and charge by means of the CHIMERA 4π array. Inclusive emission at forward angles shows that isotopic yields of Li and Be nuclei are related to the N/Z values of entrance channels. Moreover, structure effects and even-odd staggering in charge distributions of intermediate mass fragments emitted at forward angles will be shown. In agreement with previous experimental findings, odd-even effects are clearly visible in N ≈ Z systems, while are less pronounced in the neutron rich collision 40Ca+48Ca. These experimental findings are compared to preliminary data obtained in 40Ca+48Ca. collision at 25 MeV/nucleon.

TERNARY REACTIONS IN 197AU + 197AU COLLISIONS REVISITED

Ternary events originating from the 197Au + 197Au reaction at 15 MeV/nucleon, studied by using the multidetector array CHIMERA at LNS Catania, have been collected in almost complete 2π range of the forward hemisphere of CHIMERA thus extending the angular range of our previously reported preliminary data. Energy- and time calibrations for heavy fragments at large angles were supplemented with an analysis of coincidence events of binary strongly damped reactions. Contrary to the previous preliminary results, the new complete data clearly show presence of sequential fission processes in which one of Au-like nuclei undergoes fission after re-separation of the primary binary system. Mechanism of these two types of reactions observed in our data, sequential fission reactions and prompt ternary processes, are presently studied using comparisons with predictions of the stochastic BNV model of Baran, Colonna and Di Toro and the QMD model of Łukasik.

Dynamical and thermodynamical properties of incomplete fusion events at 25 MeV/nucleon

Various aspects observed in the reactions 40Ca+40,48 Ca,46Ti at E=25 MeV/nucleon, studied by means of the CHIMERA detector, will be discussed. An isospin effect on the competition between heavy residue production and binary-like channels has been observed in incomplete fusion events. From the thermodynamical point of view, kinetic energy spectra of protons emitted in fusion-evaporation events were fitted with two maxwellian functions. Despite of the different neutron richness of the populated sources, the average temperatures obtained for the quasi-fused systems are similar (T≃5.2MeV). We also performed a preliminary reconstruction of the excitation energy reached by quasi-fusion sources populated in the studied reactions.

Particle identification with the 4/spl pi/ CHIMERA detector array

Intermediate energy heavy ion collisions are unique probes to study the properties of nuclei far away from the nuclear ground state. The CHIMERA detector is a powerful second generation 4/spl pi/ array conceived to study nuclear reactions at intermediate energies. The array has 1192 detection cells covering almost 95% of total solid angle. The CHIMERA device operated at the Laboratori Nazionali del Sud in Catania in four campaigns in 2000, 2003, 2004 and 2005, showing very good performances in the detection and identification capabilities. Experimental results are presented, together with the improvement in progress to extend further the detection and identification capabilities.

Structure of 10Be and 16C nuclei via break-up reactions studied with the 4π Chimera array

The study of cluster states in neutron-rich Be and C isotopes is a subject of interest in Nuclear Physics. These states should be characterized by high deformation where α-clusters are bounded by valence neutrons. We performed a spectroscopic study of 10Be and 16C isotopes via projectile break-up reactions, by using radioactive beams produced at the INFN-LNS FRIBs facility and the Chimera 4π array. The possible evidence of a new 10Be state at 13.5 MeV excitation energy was found in the 6He+4He disintegration channel. The spectroscopy of 16C was studied via the 6He+10Be break-up channel; in this case we found the indication of a possible new state at about 20.6 MeV.