CERN Accelerating science

Article
Report number	arXiv:2401.01904
Title	Time Projection Chamber for GADGET II
Author(s)	Mahajan, Ruchi (Michigan State U., East Lansing (main)) ; Wheeler, T. (Michigan State U., East Lansing (main) ; Michigan State U.) ; Pollacco, E. (IRFU, Saclay) ; Wrede, C. (Michigan State U. ; Michigan State U., East Lansing (main)) ; Adams, A. (Michigan State U., East Lansing (main) ; Michigan State U.) ; Alvarez-Pol, H. (Santiago de Compostela U., IGFAE) ; Andalib, A. (Michigan State U., East Lansing (main)) ; Anthony, A. (High Point U.) ; Ayyad, Y. (Santiago de Compostela U., IGFAE) ; Bazin, D. (Michigan State U., East Lansing (main) ; Michigan State U.) ; Budner, T. (Michigan State U., East Lansing (main) ; Michigan State U.) ; Cortesi, M. (Michigan State U., East Lansing (main)) ; Dopfer, J. (Michigan State U., East Lansing (main) ; Michigan State U.) ; Friedman, M. (Hebrew U.) ; Jain, B. ; Jaros, A. (Michigan State U., East Lansing (main)) ; Perez-Loureiro, D. (Canadian General Electric) ; Mehl, B. (CERN) ; De Oliveira, R. (CERN) ; Ravishankar, S. ; Sun, L.J. (Michigan State U., East Lansing (main)) ; Surbrook, J. (Michigan State U., East Lansing (main) ; Michigan State U.)
Publication	2024-09-12
Imprint	2023-12-19
Number of pages	13
In:	Phys. Rev. C 110 (2024) 035807
DOI	10.1103/PhysRevC.110.035807 (publication)
Subject category	nucl-ex ; Nuclear Physics - Experiment ; physics.ins-det ; Detectors and Experimental Techniques
Accelerator/Facility, Experiment	GADGET
Abstract	Background: The established GADGET detection system, designed for measuring weak, low-energy $\beta$-delayed proton decays, features a gaseous Proton Detector with MICROMEGAS readout for calorimetric particle detection, surrounded by a Segmented Germanium Array for high-resolution prompt $\gamma$-ray detection. Purpose: To upgrade GADGET's Proton Detector to operate as a compact Time Projection Chamber (TPC) for the detection, 3D imaging and identification of low-energy $\beta$-delayed single- and multi-particle emissions mainly of interest to astrophysical studies. Method: A new high granularity MM board with 1024 pads has been designed, fabricated, installed and tested. A high-density data acquisition system based on Generic Electronics for TPCs has been installed and optimized to record and process the gas avalanche signals collected on the readout pads. The TPC's performance has been tested using a $^{220}$Rn $\alpha$-particle source and cosmic-ray muons. In addition, decay events in the TPC have been simulated by adapting the ATTPCROOT data analysis framework. Further, a novel application of 2D convolutional neural networks for GADGET II event classification is introduced. Results: The GADGET II TPC is capable of detecting and identifying $\alpha$-particles, as well as measuring their track direction, range, and energy. It has also been demonstrated that the GADGET II TPC is capable of tracking cosmic-ray muons. In addition to being one of the first generation of micro pattern gaseous detectors to utilize a resistive anode applied to low-energy nuclear physics, the GADGET II TPC will also be the first TPC surrounded by a high-efficiency array of high-purity germanium $\gamma$-ray detectors. \textbf{Conclusions:} The TPC of GADGET II has been designed, fabricated, tested, and is ready for operation at the FRIB for radioactive beam-line experiments.
Copyright/License	preprint: (License: CC BY 4.0) publication: © 2024 American Physical Society

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