The Sherry Yennello research group is preparing to use the TAMU-ORNL BaF 2 array throughout the next few years for several experiments designed to detect gamma photons from low to high energy emitted in heavy-ion collisions and nucleon capture reactions. The high-density crystal and its very fast light component allow the array to achieve good detection efficiency, reasonable energy resolution (around 15% FWHM), and a good timing resolution (below 1 ns). By using pulse-shape discrimination in the BaF 2, we are able to discriminate the charged particles from neutral particles (gamma rays and neutrons). Combining this with the Time-Of- Flight of the particles detected in the array, we will be able to select gamma rays that are in the energy range of interest for our experiments and of course, within a single event (cyclotron radio-frequency burst). The array is composed of 130 detectors that can cover a very large solid angle inside a wall like shape structure. The high segmentation of the wall allows a very good multiplicity resolution and the capacity to exclude most of the cosmic background and the Compton scattering by using the neighbor correlation techniques. The first two experiments expected to be performed at the TAMU Cyclotron Institute with this array will include a study of the asymmetry energy in the nuclear equation of state through bremsstrahlung photon measurement a very difficult but very interesting astrophysical experiment to measure the cross section for 59 Fe(d,p) 60 Fe which informs astrophysical calculations relying on the s-process waiting point at 59 Fe.

 

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Use of the ORNL-MSU-TAMU BaF2 Array by Robert Varner