N. Colonna

Pulse shape analysis of liquid scintillators for neutron studies

The acquisition of signals from liquid scintillators with Flash ADC of high sampling rate ð 1G S=sÞ has been investigated. The possibility to record the signal waveform is of great advantage in studies with g’s and neutrons in a high count-rate environment, as it allows to easily identify and separate pile-up events. The shapes of pulses produced by g-rays and neutrons have been studied for two different liquid scintillators, NE213 and C6D6: A 1-parameter fitting procedure is proposed, which allows to extract information on the particle type and energy. The performance of this method in terms of energy resolution and n=g discrimination is analyzed, together with the capability to identify and resolve pile-up events. r 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Statistical Multifragmentation in Central Au+Au Collisions at 35 MeV/u

Abstract Multifragment disintegrations, measured for central Au + Au collisions at E A = 35 MeV , are analyzed with the Statistical Multifragmentation Model. Charge distributions, mean fragment energies, and two-fragment correlation functions are well reproduced by the statistical breakup of a large, diluted and thermalized system slightly above the multifragmentation threshold.

Thermal source parameters in Au+Au central collisions at 35 A MeV

Central Au+Au collisions at 35 A MeV are analyzed to find the characteristics of a thermal source, in the framework of the statistical multifragmentation model SMM. A recently introduced backtracing protocol provides an effective comparison of theory and experiment. For the first time the distributions of the central source parameters (density, mass number, excitation energy) are found. The collective energy of primary fragments is also deduced. It is shown that the backtracing procedure allows an estimation of the pre-equilibrium emission. c 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.

Sources of complex fragment emission in lanthanum-induced reactions at E/A = 14.7 and 18.0 MeV

Abstract Complex fragments with 4 ⩽ Z ≲ 50 have been detected in the reactions of 139 La + 12 C and 27 Al at E / A = 14.7 and 18.0 MeV. From the measured angular distributions, the cross sections for the isotropic, target-like and projectile-like components were extracted. The roles of deep-inelastic, fast-fission, and incomplete fusion processes, and the statistical, compound nucleus emission of complex fragments are discussed.

Circumstantial evidence for critical behavior in peripheral Au+Au collisions at 35 MeV/nucleon.

The fragmentation resulting from peripheral Au + Au collisions at an incident energy of {ital E}=35 MeV/nucleon is investigated. A power-law charge distribution, {ital A}{sup {minus}{tau}} with {tau}{approx_equal}2.2, and an intermittency signal are observed for events selected in the region of the Campi scatter plot where {open_quote}{open_quote}critical{close_quote}{close_quote} behavior is expected. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}

A modular array for neutron spectroscopy in low- and intermediate-energy heavy-ion reactions

Abstract An array for neutron spectroscopy in low and intermediate-energy heavy-ion reactions is here described. The array is made of cylindrical liquid scintillator cells 6.3 cm in radius and 12.7 cm thick. The detectors are mounted on a mechanical structure that allows to easily position the detectors in a wide range of angles and distances from the target. The performances of a single detector, as well as those of the whole apparatus are described. Examples of experimental configurations, used in recent experiments, are presented.

Nuclear temperature measurements with helium isotopes

Abstract Temperatures extracted with the family of ( 3 He , 4 He ) isotope ratio thermometers, THe, have been studied and cross-checked with temperatures, T( 4 He ∗ ) constructed from excited and ground state populations of 4 He . Empirical correction factors provide baseline corrections for sequential decay effects for THe T( 4 He ∗ ) should agree.

Measurement of neutron yield by 62 MeV proton beam on a thick Beryllium target

In the framework of research on IVth generation reactors and high intensity neutron sources a low-power prototype neutron amplifier was recently proposed by INFN. It is based on a low-energy, high current proton cyclotron, whose beam, impinging on a thick Beryllium converter, produces a fast neutron spectrum. The world database on the neutron yield from thick Beryllium target in the 70 MeV proton energy domain is rather scarce. The new measurement was performed at LNS, covering a wide angular range from 0 to 150 degrees and an almost complete neutron energy interval. In this contribution the preliminary data are discussed together with the proposed ADS facility.

Accuracy of the Pulse Height Weighting Technique for Capture Cross Section Measurements

The accuracy of the pulse height weighting technique for the measurement of neutron capture (n,γ) cross sections is investigated. Detailed Monte Carlo simulations of capture measurements are compared to experimental data. Several causes of systematic deviation are investigated and their effect is quantified.

Different isotopic composition as a signature for different processes leading to fragment production in midperipheral 58Ni+58Ni collisions at 30 MeV/nucleon

We report on the results of experiments performed to investigate the 58 Ni + 58 Ni 30 MeV/nucleon reaction. In midperipheral collisions a massive fragment (4 Z 12) production has been observed. The emission patterns exhibit features consistent with dynamical fragmentation of a neck zone between the interacting nuclei, while in addition and at the same time, the projectile-like and targetlike residues are subject to statistical decay. The nature of the fragments produced via the two different mechanisms differ both for what concerns charge distribution and isotopic composition. In particular, neutron rich fragments can be produced in dynamical processes, even if the starting nuclear matter presents a N/Z ratio close to the unity.  2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.