A gas detection system for fragment identification in low-energy heavy-ion collisions

A gas detection system has been developed for the identification in atomic number Z and the measurement of energy E, timing and scattering angles of the fragments produced in low-energy heavy-ion induced reactions. In particular, it has been designed to be used in kinematic coincidence measurements in conjunction with the large solid angle magnetic spectrometer PRISMA. The detection system is composed of a multiwire parallel plate avalanche counter (MWPPAC) followed by an axial field ionization chamber. Both detectors have been fully characterized with analog electronics by means of heavy-ion beams delivered by the Tandem-ALPI accelerator complex of LNL. Digital electronics has also been tested for the processing of anode signal of the ionization chamber.