LASSA: a large area silicon strip array for isotopic identification of charged particles

Abstract A new high resolution, charged particle detector array, LASSA, has been developed. LASSA consists of nine individual telescopes that each utilizes a Si–Si–CsI(Tl) stack to provide isotopic identification of fragments (1⩽ Z ⩽8) with good angular resolution over a wide dynamic range in energy. The energy range covered is E / A =2.4– 140 MeV for protons and E / A =4.8– 335 MeV for 16 O ions. The front portion of each telescope is comprised of a 65 μm Si(IP) strip detector backed by a 500 μm Si(IP) strip detector. This second detector provides position information in two dimensions. Behind the second silicon detector is a cluster of four 6 cm thick CsI(Tl) crystals, each read-out by a photodiode. The design, construction, and performance characteristics of this detector telescope are described.