Narrow Results

The precise reconstruction of charged particle tracks in unsegmented liquid scintillator (LSc) neutrino detectors, e.g., from muons, is an important prerequisite for the efficient rejection of cosmogenic background events or the analysis of multi-GeV neutrino interactions. Topological information on such events, i.e., the reconstructed 3D density distribution of isotropically emitted scintillation photons, opens up new ways to accomplish these tasks. Especially future multi-kiloton LSc detectors will profit from improved (muon) track reconstruction possibilities.

Furthermore, the method presented here can also give valuable information on events traditionally treated as point-like (MeV). This offers the potential for particle discrimination at energies relevant for solar- or reactor-neutrino programs. We show that using this methods it is possible to distinguish between electrons and gammas at 2 MeV visible energy with an acceptance of 90%. Cherenkov-light presents a challenge, but also an opportunity in this context. Its potential to deliver directional information highly depends on the relative ratio between the scintillation- and Cherenkov-photons detected. However, an integrated analysis over many events could even be possible in high light yield liquid scintillator.

The GABRIELA [1] set-up is used at the FLNR to perform detailed nuclear structure studies of transfermium nuclei. Following the modernization of the VASSILISSA separator (SHELS) [2] the GABRIELA detection system has also been upgraded. The characteristics of the upgraded detection system will be presented along with results from some recent electronics tests.

NEUCAL is a neutron detector which is currently under study to be used as a sub-detector complementing electromagnetic (e.m.) calorimeters for electron/hadron discrimination in cosmic rays at high energy. Its aim is to reveal the different yield of neutron production in e.m. and hadronic showers, not only by counting signals due to their absorption in some sensible detector after passive moderation, but also looking for signals produced during the moderation phase. The basic idea and a test of a prototype detector are discussed in this paper. A first preliminary comparison of experimental data with simulation is also shown.