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Publication

A Radial Time Projection Chamber for α Detection in CLAS at JLab

Authors

Dupre, R.; Stepanyan, S.; Hattawy, M.; Baltzell, N.; Battaglieri, M.; Bueltmann, S.; Celentano, A.; De Vita, R.; Hafidi, K.; El Alaoui, A.

Abstract

Abstract A new Radial Time Projection Chamber (RTPC) was developed at the Jefferson Laboratory to track low-energy nuclear recoils to measure exclusive nuclear reactions, such as coherent deeply virtual Compton scattering and coherent meson production off 4 He. In 2009, we carried out these measurements using the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer (CLAS) supplemented by the RTPC positioned directly around a gaseous 4 He target, allowing a detection threshold as low as 12 MeV for 4 He. This article discusses the design, principle of operation, calibration methods and performances of this RTPC.