Toward real-time digital pulse process algorithms for CsI(Tl)detector array at external target facility in HIRFL-CSR

A fully digital data acquisition system based on a field-programmable gate array(FPGA) was developed for a CsI(Tl) array at the external target facility(ETF) in the Heavy Ion Research Facility in Lanzhou(HIRFL). To process the CsI(Tl) signals generated by γ-rays and light-charged ions, a scheme for digital pulse processing algorithms is proposed. Every step in the algorithms was benchmarked using standard γ and α sources. The scheme, which included a moving average filter, baseline restoration, leading-edge discrimination, moving window deconvolution, and digital charge comparison, was subsequently implemented on the FPGA. A good energy resolution of 5.7% for 1.33-MeV γ-rays and excellent α-γ identification using the digital charge comparison method were achieved, which satisfies CsI(Tl) array performance requirements.

Simulation of a soft-gamma-ray polarimeter on board a microsatellite

Gamma-ray polarimetry is a new and prospective tool for studying extremely high-energy celestial objects and is of great significance for the field of astrophysics.With the rapid development of microsatellite technology,the advantages of space exploration have become increasingly apparent.Therefore,we simulated a soft-gamma-ray polarimeter for a microsatellite based on the Compton scattering principle.We performed detailed Monte Carlo simulations using monoenergetic gamma-ray linear-polarization sources and Crab-like sources in the energy range of 0.1-10 MeV considering the orbital background.The polarimeter exhibited excellent polarization detection performance.The modulation factor was 0.80±0.01,and the polarization angles were accurate within an error of 0.2°at 200 keV for on-axis incidence.For the Crab-like sources for on-axis incidence,the polarization degrees were consistent with the set values within the error tolerance,the modulation factor was 0.76±0.01,and the minimum detectable polarization reached 2.4%at 3σfor an observation time of10^(6) s.Additionally,the polarimeter exhibited recoil electron tracking,imaging,and powerful background suppression in a large field of view(FoV;∼2πsr).The proposed polarimeter meets the requirements of a space soft-gamma-ray polarization detector and has promising research prospects.

Temperature dependence of CsI:Tl coupled to a PIN photodiode and a silicon photomultiplier

With the aim of simulating the harsh temperature condition of space, a thallium-activated cesium iodide crystal(CsI:Tl) detector readout with a PIN photodiode(CsI:Tl(PD)) and with a silicon photomultiplier(CsI:Tl(SiPM)) is investigated over a temperature range from-40 to 40 ℃. With the increase in temperature, the output signal increases by ～ 24% with CsI:Tl(PD) and decreases by ～69% with CsI:Tl(SiPM). To reduce the effect of temperature in outer space, a method of bias voltage compensation is adopted for CsI:Tl(SiPM). Our study demonstrates that after correcting the temperature the variation in the analog-to-digital converter's amplitude is< 3%.

A tracking system for the external target facility of CSR

A tracking system composed of three multiwires proportional chambers(MWPCs) for the external target facility of the Cooler Storage Ring is reported in this paper. The active areas of the MWPCs are 518 mm 9400 mm, 582 mm 9 450 mm, and 710 mm 9 500 mm Each MWPC consists of a series of alternately placed cathode and anode wire planes and can measure position along the directions of-30°, 0°, and 30° relative to horizontal. The construction and operation of the detectors are described, and a method for track reconstruction is introduced. A track-finding efficiency of about 62% and a spatial resolution of 1.21 mm have been achieved. The pion and proton can be identified clearly with the tracking system combined with a time-of-flight system.

Fragmentation of stable and neutron-rich ^(12-16)C into boron fragments at approximately 240 MeV/nucleon

The elemental fragmentation cross sections of boron fragments produced by stable and neutron-rich^(12-16)C beams with a carbon target were systematically measured at an incident beam energy of approximately 240 MeV/nucleon.The measured cross sections were found to increase as the projectile mass number increases.The observed feature is explained qualitatively based on the abrasion-ablation two-stage reaction model and is compared quantitatively with predictions from various reaction models,including empirical and statistical models.All models agree with the measured cross sections within a factor of 2.

Isotopic production cross sections of fragmentation residues produced by ^(18)O ions on a carbon target near 260 MeV/nucleon

The isotopic cross sections of residual nuclei produced in fragmentation reactions of ^(18)O projectiles impinging on a carbon target at energies near 260 MeV/nucleon were measured at the HIRFL facility in Lanzhou(China).A full identification of atomic and mass numbers of fragments was achieved from the determination of their magnetic rigidity,energy loss,and time of flight.The production cross sections for a dozen of nitrogen,carbon,and boron isotopes were determined with uncertainties below 30% for most of the cases.The obtained cross sections for N and B isotopes show a rather good agreement with previous experimental data obtained with different projectile energies.The cross sections for some C isotopes seem to exhibit a dependence on the projectile energy.A comparison of the data and several theoretical model calculations are presented.