Germanium-gated γ–γ fast timing of excited states in fission fragments using the EXILL&FATIMA spectrometer

• DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2014.06.004
• Publication Date: 2014-06-11T17:11:31Z
• Authors: J.-M. Régis; G.S. Simpson; A. Blanc; G. de France; M. Jentschel; U. Köster; P. Mutti; V. Paziy; N. Saed-Samii; T. Soldner; C.A. Ur; W. Urban; A.M. Bruce; F. Drouet; L.M. Fraile; S. Ilieva; J. Jolie; W. Korten; T. Kröll; S. Lalkovski; H. Mach; N. Mărginean; G. Pascovici; Zs. Podolyak; P.H. Regan; O.J. Roberts; J.F. Smith; C. Townsley; A. Vancraeyenest; N. Warr
• Keywords: The GCD method; Lifetime measurements; 0103 physical sciences; F370 Nuclear and Particle Physics; Neutron induced fission; Fast-timing arrays; [PHYS.PHYS.PHYS-INS-DET]Physics [physics]/Physics [physics]/Instrumentation and Detectors [physics.ins-det]; [PHYS.NEXP]Physics [physics]/Nuclear Experiment [nucl-ex]; Neutron capture gamma rays; 01 natural sciences; LaBr3(Ce) scintillators

A high-granularity mixed spectrometer consisting of high-resolution Ge and very fast LaBr3(Ce)scintillator detectors has been installed around a fission target at the cold-neutron guide PF1B of the high-flux reactor of the Institut Laue–Langevin. Lifetimes of excited states in the range of 10 ps to 10 ns can be measured in around 100 exotic neutron-rich fission fragments using Ge-gated LaBr3(Ce)– LaBr3(Ce) or Ge–Ge–LaBr3(Ce)–LaBr3(Ce) coincidences. We report on various characteristics of the EXILL&FATIMA spectrometer for the energy range of 40 keV up to 6.8 MeV and present results of pslifetime test measurements in a fission fragment. The results are discussed with respect to possible systematic errors induced by background contributions. & 2014 Published by Elsevier B.V.