Lalovic, N., Louchart, C., Michelagnoli, C., Perez-Vidal, R. M., Ralet, D., Gerl, J., et al. (2016). Performance of the AGATA gamma-ray spectrometer in the PreSPEC set-up at GSI. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A, 806, 258–266.
Abstract: In contemporary nuclear physics, the European Advanced GAmma Tracking Array (AGATA) represents a crucial detection system for cutting-edge nuclear structure studies. AGATA consists of highly segmented high-purity germanium crystals and uses the pulse-shape analysis technique to determine both the position and the energy of the y-ray interaction points in the crystals. It is the tracking algorithms that deploy this information and enable insight into the sequence of interactions, providing information on the full or partial absorption of the 7 ray. A series of dedicated performance measurements for an AGATA set-up comprising 21 crystals is described. This set-up was used within the recent PreSPEC-AGATA experimental campaign at the GSI Helmholtzzentrum fur Schwerionenforschung. Using the radioactive sources Co-56, Co-60 and Eu-152, absolute and normalized efficiencies and the peak-to-total of the array were measured. These quantities are discussed using different data analysis procedures. The quality of the pulse-shape analysis and the tracking algorithm are evaluated. The agreement between the experimental data and the Geant4 simulations is also investigated.
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Barrientos, D., Bellato, M., Bazzacco, D., Bortolato, D., Cocconi, P., Gadea, A., et al. (2015). Performance of the Fully Digital FPGA-Based Front-End Electronics for the GALILEO Array. IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci., 62(6), 3134–3139.
Abstract: In this work we present the architecture and results of a fully digital Front End Electronics (FEE) read out system developed for the GALILEO array. The FEE system, developed in collaboration with the Advanced Gamma Tracking Array (AGATA) collaboration, is composed of three main blocks: preamplifiers, digitizers and preprocessing electronics. The slow control system contains a custom Linux driver, a dynamic library and a server implementing network services. This work presents the first results of the digital FEE system coupled with a GALILEO germanium detector, which has demonstrated the capability to achieve an energy resolution of 1.53% at an energy of 1.33 MeV, similar to the one obtained with a conventional analog system. While keeping a good performance in terms of energy resolution, digital electronics will allow to instrument the full GALILEO array with a versatile system with high integration and low power consumption and costs.
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Barrientos, D., Gonzalez, V., Bellato, M., Gadea, A., Bazzacco, D., Blasco, J. M., et al. (2013). Multiple Register Synchronization With a High-Speed Serial Link Using the Aurora Protocol. IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci., 60(5), 3521–3525.
Abstract: In this work, the development and characterization of a multiple synchronous registers interface communicating with a high-speed serial link and using the Aurora protocol is presented. A detailed description of the developing process and the characterization methods and hardware test benches are also included. This interface will implement the slow control buses of the digitizer cards for the second generation of electronics for the Advanced GAmma Tracking Array (AGATA).
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AGATA Collaboration, Farnea, E., Recchia, F., Bazzacco, D., Kroll, T., Podolyak, Z., et al. (2010). Conceptual design and Monte Carlo simulations of the AGATA array. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A, 621(1-3), 331–343.
Abstract: The aim of the Advanced GAmma Tracking Array (AGATA) project is the construction of an array based on the novel concepts of pulse shape analysis and gamma-ray tracking with highly segmented Ge semiconductor detectors. The conceptual design of AGATA and its performance evaluation under different experimental conditions has required the development of a suitable Monte Carlo code. In this article, the description of the code as well as simulation results relevant for AGATA, are presented.
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Goasduff, A., Valiente-Dobon, J. J., Lunardi, S., Haas, F., Gadea, A., de Angelis, G., et al. (2014). Counting rate measurements for lifetime experiments using the RDDS method with the new generation gamma-ray array AGATA. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A, 758, 1–3.
Abstract: The differential Recoil Distance Doppler Shift (RDDS) method after multinucleon transfer (MNT) reactions to measure lifetimes of excited states in neutron-rich nuclei requires the use of a thick energy degrader for the recoiling ejectiles that are then detected in a spectrometer. This type of measurements greatly benefits from the use of the new generation segmented gamma-ray detectors, such as the AGATA demonstrator which offers unprecedented energy and angular resolutions. In order to make an optimized choice of the material and the thickness of the degrader for lifetime measurements using the RODS method after MNT, an experiment has been performed with the AGATA demonstrator. Counting rate measurements for different degraders are presented.
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