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The HISPEC/DESPEC collaboration envisages long experimental campaigns exploiting the expected beam performances of Super-FRS. The experiments will be performed at the Low-Energy Branch of the upcoming FAIR and will focus on the physics of exotic isotopes, primarily in the heavy neutron-rich region. The goal of the HISPEC/DESPEC experimental campaigns is to explore the excitation and decay properties of rare isotopes produced via fragmentation and fission. First rare-isotope beam simulations of representative future HISPEC/DESPEC experimental cases are presented. The simulations provide an insight into the forthcoming state-of-art experiments in the future FAIR facility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The design of a fast-timing γ-ray detection array aimed at measuring sub-nanosecond half-lives using LaBr3:Ce scintillation crystals is presented. This array will complement novel and existing charged particle and neutron detector arrays at the low-energy branch of a fragment separator (Super-FRS) to be built within the NuSTAR collaboration as part of the future Facility for Anti-proton and Ion Research (FAIR). The array will be used in conjunction with the Advanced Implantation Detector Array (AIDA), to measure implant-decay correlations. Monte-Carlo simulations have been performed to determine the design of the proposed fast-timing array around a localised implantation point. In particular, simulations were used to determine the full-energy peak efficiencies for single cylindrical, conical and ‘hybrid’ detector geometries, as well as complete array configurations of ‘hybrid’ and ∅1.5in.×2in. cylindrical crystals. Timing precision calculations were then used to determine the timing response for each configuration based on its simulated efficiency. An informed decision based on the simulated efficiencies and timing precision calculations allowed the optimum configuration for the array to be determined. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The DE cay SPEC troscopy (DESPEC) setup for nuclear structure investigations was developed and commissioned at GSI, Germany in preparation for a full campaign of experiments at the FRS and Super-FRS. In this paper, we report on the first employment of the setup in the hybrid configuration with the AIDA implanter coupled to the FATIMA LaBr 3 (Ce) fast-timing array, and high-purity germanium detectors. Initial results are shown from the first experiments carried out with the setup. An overview of the setup and function is discussed, including technical advancements along the path. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The DESPEC HPGe array is a part of the NuSTAR project at FAIR, Germany. It is aimed at the spectroscopy of the stopped decaying exotic nuclei. Segmented -ray tracking detectors are proposed for this array in order to maximize detection efficiency and background suppression when searching for very rare events. Two types of detector modules—stacks of three 16-fold segmented planar crystals and 12- and 16-fold segmented clover detectors—have been investigated and compared from the point of view of the achievable position resolution using pulse shape analysis (PSA). To this end, detector signals from realistic -ray interactions have been calculated. These signals were treated by PSA in order to reconstruct the photon interaction locations. Comparing the initial interaction locations to the reconstructed ones, it was found that the double-sided strip planar detector yielded position reconstruction errors at least a factor 2 lower than the other detectors considered. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A new pulse-processing electronics architecture for photomultipliers coupled to fast scintillators used in nuclear physics experiments is described. The system comprises a field programmable gate array (FPGA) based time-to-digital converter (TDC), as well as custom analog electronics for amplification and efficient analog signal processing. These electronics include separate fast and slow discrete amplifiers to extract the timing and energy information of the incident radiation on cerium doped lanthanum bromide scintillators. With the slow amplifier, a novel circuit that is able to convert energy information directly into pulse width with a linear dependence is introduced. Advanced and highly demanded features such as low-processing time, high data rate handling capabilities and long collection windows have been tested with radioactive ion-beams. These characteristics of pulse-processing modules will further push the boundaries of experimental freedom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: One of the proposed germanium detector systems for the upcoming DESPEC array at the FAIR facility consists of triple modules of electrically segmented planar high-purity germanium detectors. In this work, the position sensitivity obtained by means of pulse shape analysis (PSA) for simulated -ray interactions has been studied for the possible segmentation patterns for such detectors—the double-sided strip detector (DSSD) and the one-sided pixelated geometry. An over-all similar number of readout channels has been considered for each case, resulting in strips and 16 pixels. It has been found that the higher physical granularity of the DSSD results in a significantly higher position resolution, as well as in a somewhat lower probability of merging multiple interaction points. A drawback of the DSSD geometry is the inability to assign the interactions to the correct voxels for certain complex multiple interaction patterns. This effect has been studied in detail. Finally, a comparison has been made with the existing 25-pixel planar detector at KTH [A. Khaplanov, et al., Nucl. Instr. and Meth. A 580 (2007) 1075; L. Milechina, B. Cederwall, Nucl. Instr. and Meth. A 550 (2005) 278)]. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The components, working principle and characteristics of FATIMA (FAst TIMing Array), a fast-timing detector system for DESPEC at FAIR, are described. The core system includes 36 LaBr 3 (Ce) scintillator detectors, a mounting frame for the DESPEC station and a VME-based fast-timing data acquisition system. The current electronic timing circuit is based on V812 constant fraction discriminators and V1290 time-to-digital converters. Gamma-ray energies are measured using V1751 digitisers. Characteristics of the core FATIMA system including efficiency, energy, and coincidence resolving time, as well as limitations, are discussed on the basis of test measurements performed in the S4 cave at GSI, Germany. The coincidence γ - γ time resolution for the prompt 60Co cascade is determined to be ∼ 320 ps full width at half maximum. The total full energy peak efficiency at 1 MeV for the 36 detector array in the DESPEC setup is 2.9%. The energy-dependent prompt response centroid curve with the current CFD/TDC combination is shown to be smooth; the centroid shift method can be applied for the measurement of half-lives below 200 ps. An overview of applications of the FATIMA detectors as an ancilliary system in combination with other detector arrays during recent years is given. Data on the operation of the detectors in the presence of magnetic fields are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]