Active targets and TPCs for (low-energy) nuclear physics experiments

Fri., Oct. 27, 2017 3:30 p.m. - Fri., Oct. 27, 2017 4:30 p.m.

Location: CL 317

Abstract: In this presentation, I will begin with an overview on gaseous detectors ranging from the development of the multi-wire proportional counter (MWPC), drift chambers and time projection chambers (TPC) and highlight some well-known examples. While many of these detectors were developed for high-energy applications in particle physics, their use in low-energy nuclear physics experiments with radioactive beams has increased dramatically over the last decade. In nuclear physics, the detector is primarily used as an “active target” and several projects are presently underway to construct next generation detectors with unprecedented granularity. The Active Target and Time Projection Chamber (ACTAR TPC) is a Regina-led project in Europe whose goal is to construct a detector that will consist of micro-pattern gaseous detectors coupled to a highly pixelated pad plane with a pitch of only 2x2 mm2. Both the channel density (25 channels/cm2) and total number of electronics channels (16384) are the highest that have been achieved by any nuclear physics detector to date. An overview of the project, the challenges associated with constructing such a device and the day-one physics program for ACTAR TPC when it goes online at the GANIL laboratory in France in 2018 will be described in detail.

Speaker: Dr. Gwen Grinyer, Department of Physics, University of Regina