S. Watson

A Time Projection Chamber for High Accuracy and Precision Fission Cross Section Measurements

Abstract The fission Time Projection Chamber (fissionTPC) is a compact (15xa0cm diameter) two-chamber MICROMEGAS TPC designed to make precision cross-section measurements of neutron-induced fission. The actinide targets are placed on the central cathode and irradiated with a neutron beam that passes axially through the TPC inducing fission in the target. The 4π acceptance for fission fragments and complete charged particle track reconstruction are powerful features of the fissionTPC which will be used to measure fission cross-sections and examine the associated systematic errors. This paper provides a detailed description of the design requirements, the design solutions, and the initial performance of the fissionTPC.

Resolution of the multichannel anomaly in the extraction of S-matrix resonance-pole parameters

Inspired by anomalies which the standard scattering matrix pole-extraction procedures have produced in a mathematically well defined coupled-channel model, we have developed a new method based solely on the assumption of partial-wave analyticity. The new method is simple and applicable not only to theoretical predictions but to the empirical partial-wave data as well. Since the standard pole-extraction procedures turn out to be the lowest-order term of the proposed method the anomalies are understood and resolved.

Performance of a MICROMEGAS-based TPC in a high-energy neutron beam

Abstract The MICROMEGAS (MICRO-MEsh GAseous Structure) charge amplification structure has found wide use in many detection applications, especially as a gain stage for the charge readout of Time Projection Chambers (TPCs). Here we report on the behavior of a MICROMEGAS TPC when operated in a high-energy (up to 800 MeV ) neutron beam. It is found that neutron-induced reactions can cause discharges in some drift gas mixtures that are stable in the absence of the neutron beam. The discharges result from recoil ions close to the MICROMEGAS that deposit high specific ionization density and have a limited diffusion time. For a binary drift gas, increasing the percentage of the molecular component (quench gas) relative to the noble component and operating at lower pressures generally improves stability.

The NIFFTE project

The Neutron Induced Fission Fragment Tracking Experiment (NIFFTE) is a double-sided Time Projection Chamber (TPC) with micromegas readout designed to measure the energy-dependent neutron-induced fission cross sections of the major and minor actinides with unprecedented accuracy. The NIFFTE project addresses the challenge of minimizing major sources of systematic uncertainties from previous fission chamber measurements such as: target and beam non-uniformities, misidentification of alpha and light charged particles as fission fragments, and uncertainties inherent to the reference standards used. In-beam tests of the NIFFTE TPC at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) started in 2010 and have continued in 2011, 2012 and 2013. An overview of the NIFFTE TPC status and performance at LANSCE will be presented.

Λ‐Polarization Measurement in π−p→K0Λ in the Framework of ‘EPECUR’ Experiment Proposal

The idea of ‘EPECUR’ was inspired by the recent splash of the activity around the pentaquark matters. The goal of the experiment is the search for narrow resonant states in the reactions π−p → π−p and π−p → K0Λ based on the very precise cross section measurements in fine energy steps of 0.5 MeV in terms of the invariant mass. As a valuable byproduct of the second stage of the experiment, Λ‐polarization in π−p → K0Λ can be measured, based on the well‐known weak Λ‐decay asymmetry. The expected statistical significance of the measurement overrides the best existing data from ‘NIMROD’ detector by an order of magnitude. The experimental setup is under construction at the ITEP proton synchrotron in collaboration with PNPI and ACU.