K.C. Chan

The trigger detector for APEX: An array of position-sensitive NaI(Tl) detectors for the imaging of positrons from heavy-ion collisions

Abstract We describe a 24-element position-sensitive cylindrical NaI(Tl) detector which allows positron imaging with an on-axis position resolution of 3 cm FWHM and annihilation radiation energy resolution of 13% FWHM. Two such detectors will provide the trigger for the APEX experiment at Argonne National Laboratory, which is exploring anomalous positron and electron production observed in heavy-ion collisions.

Positron production in heavy ion collisions: Current status of the problem

Narrow peaks have been observed at GSI Darmstadt in the energy spectra of positrons and sum-energy spectra of positron-electron pairs, produced in collisions of very heavy ions. To date, there is no satisfactory explanation of the origin of these lines although many differing models have been proposed. In this contribution, the authors describe the features of a new experiment aimed at the study of the line phenomenon and present the results of their first experiments. The specific goals of their experiment are to clarify the experimental situation regarding the lines through high-resolution, high-statistics data and, by direct measurement of the vector momenta of the peak pairs, to determine their kinematics.

A solenoidal spectrometer for positron-electron pairs produced in heavy-ion collisions

Abstract A new solenoidal spectrometer, designed to study the production mechanism of electrons and positrons in heavy-ion collisions, has been constructed at Argonne National Laboratory. The spectrometer uses a 300 G magnetic field to transport the leptons to two highly segmented silicon arrays that are centered on the solenoid axis, 1.2 m from the target. Positrons are identified by detecting their annihilation radiation with two arrays of position sensitive NaI(Tl) crystals that surround the silicon arrays. A novel design feature of the spectrometer is the ability to measure the angles of emission of the leptons relative to the solenoid axis. The measured response of the apparatus to electrons and positrons is in very good agreement with the calculated response obtained from Monte Carlo simulations.

Apex and the e+/e− Puzzle: Recent Results

Narrow structures first reported in positron singles energy spectra [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7] and later in electron-positron energy distributions [5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12] associated with collisions of very heavy ions near the Coulomb barrier have been an outstanding puzzle in nuclear physics for nearly fifteen years. In a series of positron and positron/electron experiments by three different groups (EPOS, ORANGE and TORI) ([5] and citations therein) at the GSI UNILAC at Darmstadt, Germany narrow structures (‘lines’) were observed by EPOS and ORANGE for several heavy-ion collision systems, with some features such as the line energies and widths having apparently similar values for the different collision systems.

Trigger processor for the APEX positron-electron spectrometer

Abstract The APEX experiment is designed to study anomalous positron-electron pair production in heavy-ion collisions. Its trigger processor is designed to give a fast, first-level trigger which initiates data readout for interesting events. This is achieved by identifying the back-to-back 511 keV annihilation radiation from positron decay. The radiation is detected in a segmented NaI(Tl) calorimeter and the trigger processor identifies those patterns of hit detectors which are consistent with back-to-back decay. A fast pattern recognition algorithm gives triggering pulses within the 82.5 ns accelerator beam pulse period. Valid hit patterns are software-coded into memory and can be easily changed. A novel two-level discriminator, constructed from standard IC devices, provides self-vetoing to reduce background associated with cosmic ray muons.