R. Alba

MEDEA: a multi element detector array for gamma ray and light charged particle detection at the LNS-Catania

Abstract A 4 π highly granular Mutli Element DEtector Array (MEDEA) for γ-rays and light charged particles is described. Its basic configuration consists of 180 barium fluoride scintillator crystals, arranged in the shape of a ball, plus a forward angle wall of 120 phoswich detectors. The inner radius of the ball (22 cm) and the distance of the wall from the target (55 cm) allow the placement of other detectors.in the inner volume. The whole detection system operates under vacuum inside a large scattering chamber. Dedicated electronics has been designed and realized. It includes a powerful hardware second level trigger and preanalysis system, which allows on-line event selection, and a modular VME-bus based data acquisition system. In-beam performances of the system are also described.

Evidence for α-particle condensation in nuclei from the Hoyle state deexcitation

Abstract The fragmentation of quasi-projectiles from the nuclear reaction 40Ca + 12C at 25 MeV/nucleon was used to produce excited states candidates to α-particle condensation. Complete kinematic characterization of individual decay events, made possible by a high-granularity 4π charged particle multi-detector, reveals that 7.5 ± 4.0 % of the particle decays of the Hoyle state correspond to direct decays in three equal-energy α-particles.

Strong impact parameter dependence of hard photon production in intermediate energy heavy ion collisions

Abstract The dependence of the high energy photon production on the impact parameter has been investigated in the reaction 129 Xe+ 197 Au at 44 MeV/u using the multidetector array MEDEA. A strong dependence of the high energy photon production probability on the impact parameter has been observed, while the slope parameter of the photon spectrum is almost constant. The data support the interpretation of the hard photon production in terms of first chance n-p collisions.

Isospin transport in 84 Kr + 112,124 Sn collisions at Fermi energies

Isospin transport phenomena in dissipative heavy ion collisions have been in- vestigated at Fermi energies with a beam of 84 Kr at 35AMeV. A comparison of theh Ni /Z of light and medium products forward-emitted in the centre of mass frame when the beam impinges on two different targets, the n-poor 112 Sn and the n-rich 124 Sn, is presented. Data were collected by means of a three-layer telescope with very good performances in terms of mass identification (full isotopic resolution up to Z�20 for ions punching through the first detector layer) built by the FAZIA Collaboration and located just beyond the grazing angle for both reactions. Theh Ni /Z of the products detected when the n-rich target is used is always higher than that associated to the n-poor one; since the detector was able to measure only fragments coming from the QuasiProjectile decay and/or neck emission, the observed behaviour can be ascribed to the isospin diffusion process, driven by the isospin gradient between QuasiProjectile and QuasiTarget. Moreover, for light fragments theh Ni /Z as a function of the lab velocity of the fragment is observed to increase when we move from the QuasiProjectile velocity to the centre of mass (neck zone). This effect can be interpreted as an evidence of isospin drift driven by the density gradient between the QuasiProjectile zone (at normal density) and the more diluted neck zone.

On the origin of fast proton emission in intermediate energy heavy ion collisions

Abstract Exclusive measurements of multiplicity distributions of fast protons emitted in 40Ar and 132Xe induced reactions at 44 MeV/u bombarding energy have been performed using MEDEA 4π detection sytem. The data reflect the impact parameter dependence of the overlap region size and scale from system to system as the number of participant protons. The hypothesis of pre-equilibrium emission following first order p-N collisions is consistent with the data.

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.

Prompt dipole radiation in fusion reactions

Abstract The prompt γ-ray emission is investigated in the 16 A MeV energy region by means of the 36,40Ar + 96,92Zr fusion reactions leading to a compound nucleus in the vicinity of 132Ce. The dynamical nature of this radiation is confirmed. We show that the prompt γ radiation has an angular distribution pattern consistent with a dipole oscillation along the symmetry axis of the dinuclear system. The data are compared with calculations based on a collective bremsstrahlung analysis of the reaction dynamics.

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.

N and Z odd-even staggering in Kr + Sn collisions at Fermi energies

The odd-even staggering of the yield of final reaction products has been studied as a function of proton (Z) and neutron (N ) numbers for the collisions 84 Kr + 112 Sn and 84 Kr + 124 Sn at 35 MeV/nucleon in a wide range of elements (up to Z ≈ 20). The experimental data show that staggering effects rapidly decrease with increasing size of the fragments. Moreover the staggering in N is definitely larger than the one in Z. Similar general features are qualitatively reproduced by the GEMINI code. Concerning the comparison of the two systems, the staggering in N is in general rather similar, being slightly larger only for the lightest fragments produced in the n-rich system. In contrast the staggering in Z, although smaller than that in N , is sizably larger for the n-poor system with respect to the n-rich one.

Performance of a symmetric BGO-NaI anti-compton shield

Abstract A compact symmetric BGO-NaI shield for accurate discrete γ-ray spectroscopy with germanium detectors is described. Tests of the shield performed with radioactive sources are presented. The characteristics are expressed in terms of the Compton suppression factor, of the average detection efficiency and of the peak to total ratio deduced from the analysis of the response function of a Ge detector inserted into the shield.