MRI: The UNF-FSU Neutron Detector Array RESONEUT for Rare Ion Beams

该奖项将开发一种新型的低能中子探测器阵列，将用于佛罗里达州立大学(FSU)的Resolut放射性束流设施。提出的探测器系统使用对三苯基晶体和新型紧凑型“Planacon”光电倍增器的组合，以实现对低能中子的高灵敏度和脉冲形状辨别，以抑制伽马射线和X射线背景。这些探测器的四个原型系统已经在俄亥俄州立大学组装和测试。这项提议寻求获得由12个探测器组成的探测器阵列所需的所有部件，该阵列将由北佛罗里达大学(UNF)的本科生研究人员组装和测试。整个系统将在佛罗里达州立大学约翰·D·福克斯加速器实验室进行实验。探测器阵列将使一个研究天体物理快速质子捕获过程(RP过程)中的质子共振的实验计划成为可能，这将为联合国大学本科生参与研究项目创造更多的机会。新型低能中子探测器阵列集成到佛罗里达州立大学的Resolut放射性束流设施中，将能够有效地探测核碰撞中剩余的中子，在碰撞中，氚中的质子被转移到入射的更重的原子核。这些反应被用作研究和校准核反应速率的替代品，这些核反应速度被组成恒星爆炸核合成的一个组成部分的原子核快速捕获质子的过程所组成。该项目将为联合国基金会的本科生研究人员提供变革性的学习机会，他们将组装和测试探测器系统，参与约翰·D·福克斯加速器实验室中子探测器阵列的后续调试实验，并分析调试实验的数据。在这个项目完成后，联合国基金会的教职员工和本科生将继续与佛罗里达州立大学的核物理小组合作进行实验，中子探测器阵列将提供给Resolut设施的所有用户。

This award will develop a new type of low-energy neutron detector array, which is to be used at the Resolut radioactive beam facility of Florida State University (FSU). The proposed detector systems use a combination of a p-Terphenyl crystal with a novel type of compact "Planacon" photo multiplier to achieve high sensitivity for low energy neutrons and pulse-shape discrimination to suppress gamma-ray and X-ray background. Four prototype-systems for these detectors have been assembled and tested at FSU. This proposal seeks to acquire all components required for a detector array of twelve detectors, which will be assembled and tested by undergraduate researchers at the University of North Florida (UNF). The complete system will be commissioned in experiments at the John D. Fox accelerator laboratory of Florida State University. The detector array will enable an experimental program to study proton-resonances in the astrophysical rapid proton capture process(rp-process), which will create further opportunities for involvement of UNF undergraduate students in research projects.The integration of the novel low-energy neutron detector array into the Resolut radioactive beam facility of Florida State University will enable the efficient detection of the remaining neutron from a nuclear collision in which the proton in a deuteron is transferred to an incident heavier nucleus. Such reactions are used as surrogates for studying and calibrating nuclear reaction rates for the rapid proton captures by nuclei that constitute the rp-process which is considered to be a component of explosive stellar nucleosynthesis. This project will provide transformational learning opportunities for undergraduate researchers at UNF who will assemble and test the detector systems, participate in the subsequent commissioning experiments for the neutron detector array at the John D. Fox accelerator laboratory, and analyze data from the commissioning experiments. Following completion of this project, UNF faculty and undergraduates will continue to collaborate on experiments with the nuclear physics group at FSU and the neutron detector array will be available to all users of the Resolut facility.