MuSIC@Indiana: an effective tool for accurate measurement of fusion with low-intensity radioactive beams

Abstract

The design, construction, and characterization of the Multi-Sampling Ionization Chamber, MuSIC@Indiana, are described. This detector provides efficient and accurate measurement of the fusion cross-section at near-barrier energies. The response of the detector to low-intensity beams of ${}^{17,18}$O, ${}^{19}$F, ${}^{23}$Na, ${}^{24,26}$Mg, ${}^{27}$Al, and ${}^{28}$Si at E${}_{lab}$ = 50-60 MeV was examined. MuSIC@Indiana was commissioned by measuring the ${}^{18}$O+${}^{12}$C fusion excitation function for 11 $<$ E${}_{cm}$ $<$ 20 MeV using CH${}_4$ gas. A simple, effective analysis cleanly distinguishes proton capture and two-body scattering events from fusion on carbon. With MuSIC@Indiana, measurement of 15 points on the excitation function for a single incident beam energy is achieved. The resulting excitation function is shown to be in good agreement with literature data

8 pages, 9 figures