| dc.description.abstract | A novel cesium iodide detector array as been designed for use at the Cyclotron Institute at Texas A&M University (TAMU). Officially named “The Texas Cesium Iodide Array for Astrophysical Measurements,” or TexCAAM, its design is intended for use in sub-Coulomb, alpha-transfer astrophysical experiments. Specifically, TexCAAM was designed to collect data in experiments that offer potential solutions to the Cosmological Lithium Discrepancy, as well as experimental observations of processes that could contribute to the formulation of zero metallicity, population-III stars in the early Universe. TexCAAM consists of 32 thallium-doped, cesium iodide scintillation detectors that are arranged to surround a mounted target. Its design has high geometric efficiency, possessing a solid angle coverage of ~90%. To reduce noise, TexCAAM was designed with a mounted 1500-um silicon charged-particle detector that functions as a coincidence gate. Rare isotope beams are available at the TAMU Cyclotron Institute using the Momentum Achromat Recoil Separator. As an efficient gamma spectrometer, TexCAAM can be used to fully characterize the reactions between a beam and a target material. TexCAAM’s construction is complete, and it has undergone energy calibrations for each of its constituent detectors. The efficiency calibration for the array is also complete for low energy gamma rays (< 1.5-2 MeV). TexCAAM has already been used successfully in several nuclear astrophysical experiments, and final calibrations are currently being conducted to characterize the detector setup for higher energy gamma rays. The physics and methodology for the apparatus characterization are presented in this thesis. | en |
