Fudan Multi-purpose Active TArget Time Projection Chamber (fMeta-TPC) for Photonnuclear Reaction Experiments

TL;DR

The paper introduces the fMeta-TPC, a multi-purpose active target detector designed for photonuclear reaction experiments, demonstrating its high angular and energy resolution capabilities for studying alpha-clustering nuclei.

Contribution

The development and comprehensive evaluation of the fMeta-TPC, including its design, performance metrics, and suitability for photonuclear reaction studies using gamma sources.

Findings

Angular resolution within 0.30 degrees

Energy resolution of 6.85% at 3.0 MeV

Gain uniformity around 10% (RMS/Mean)

Abstract

Active Target Time Projection Chambers (AT-TPCs) are state-of-the-art tools in the field of low-energy nuclear physics, particularly suitable for experiments using low-intensity radioactive ion beams or gamma rays. The Fudan Multi-purpose Active Target Time Projection Chamber (fMeta-TPC) with 2048 channels has been developed to study $\alpha$-clustering nuclei. {\fcb In this work, the focus is on the study of the photonuclear reaction with the Laser Compton Scattering (LCS) gamma source, especially for the decay of the highly excited $\alpha$-cluster state.} The design of fMeta-TPC is described and a comprehensive evaluation of its offline performance is performed by ultraviolet (UV) laser and $^{241}$Am $\alpha$ source. The result shows that the intrinsic angular resolution of the detector is within 0.30$^{\circ}$ and has an energy resolution of 6.85\% for 3.0 MeV $\alpha$ particles. The gain uniformity of the detector is about 10\% (RMS/Mean), tested by the $^{55}$Fe X-ray source.