The Focal plane Detector Package on the TUNL Split-pole Spectrograph

TL;DR

This paper presents the design, construction, and testing of a comprehensive focal plane detector package for the TUNL Split-pole Spectrograph, enabling particle identification and precise focal plane reconstruction.

Contribution

It introduces a new detector package with detailed electronics and data acquisition, and demonstrates its performance using a specific nuclear reaction.

Findings

Effective particle identification and focal plane reconstruction achieved.

Resolution depends on fill pressure and bias voltage.

Bayesian energy calibration method successfully applied.

Abstract

A focal plane detector for the Enge Split-pole Spectrograph at Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory has been designed. The detector package consists of two position sensitive gas avalanche counters, a gas proportionality energy loss section, and a residual energy scintillator. This setup allows both particle identification and focal plane reconstruction. In this paper we will detail the construction of each section along with their accompanying electronics and data acquisition. Effects of energy loss throughout the detector, ray tracing procedures, and resolution as a function of fill pressure and bias voltage are also investigated. A measurement of the $^{27}\!$Al$(d,p)$ reaction is used to demonstrate detector performance and to illustrate a Bayesian method of energy calibration.