HeCTOr: the 3He Cryogenic Target of Orsay for direct nuclear reactions with radioactive ion beams

Direct nuclear reactions with radioactive ion beams represent an extremely powerful tool to extend the study of fundamental nuclear properties far from stability. These measurements require pure and dense targets to cope with the low beam intensities. The He-3 cryogenic target HeCTOr has been designed to perform direct nuclear reactions in inverse kinematics. The high density of He-3 scattering centers, of the order of 10(20) atoms/cm(2), makes it particularly suited for experiments where low-intensity radioactive beams are involved. The target was employed in a first in-beam experiment, where it was coupled to state-of-the-art gamma-ray and particle detectors. It showed excellent stability in gas temperature and density over time. Relevant experimental quantities, such as total target thickness, energy resolution and gamma-ray absorption, were determined through dedicated Geant4 simulations and found to be in good agreement with experimental data.

Automated summary

Direct nuclear reactions with radioactive ion beams provide a powerful tool for studying fundamental nuclear properties far from stability, requiring pure and dense targets. The He-3 cryogenic target HeCTOr was designed for direct nuclear reactions in inverse kinematics, showing excellent stability in a first in-beam experiment.