Speaker
Description
The realization of a new focal plane detector for the MAGNEX large acceptance magnetic spectrometer (@INFN-LNS) is one of the current focuses of the R&D activities within the NUMEN project. The project aims to provide data-driven evaluation of the neutrinoless double beta (0νββ)-decay Nuclear Matrix Elements by measuring the extremely low Heavy-Ion induced Double Charge Exchange reaction cross sections (tens of nb). In this scenario, the ongoing upgrade of the INFN-LNS infrastructure toward unprecedented high fluencies of ions (10^13 ions/cm^2 integrated in the 10 years prospected duration of the project) is of fundamental importance, encouraging the application of innovative technologies for the new detection system. The new focal plane detector consists of a low pressure gas-filled tracker based on micro-pattern gas detector (i.e. Multiple-THGEM) and a telescope array of SiC-CsI(Tl) for particle identification (PID-Wall).
The structure of the gas tracker involves three main regions: the drift, the multiplication, and the induction regions, from the bottom to the top, respectively. Systematic studies on the electrical configurations return a maximum achievable gain of the order of 10^5 and an Ion Backflow down to 10-20% in our working conditions. Moreover, the first characterization of the gas tracker in coincidence with a single SiC-detector points out a good reconstruction quality of the tracks left by α particles. A new in-beam test (IRRAD4) was performed at the University of São Paulo, employing 7Li and 12C beams at different energies and at different rates of incident particles. The analysis of the data is ongoing.
This contribution will introduce the detector and its working principle, reporting the main results obtained during the tests.
