Nuclear targets, recoil ion catchers and reaction chambers

The main features of nuclear targets, recoil ion catchers and reaction chambers used in nuclear spectroscopic investigations involving in-beam multi-e-gamma spectrometers are discussed. The relative importance of the F-ray background due to the accelerated ion-target and the recoil-ion-target interaction is estimated. Its impact on the prompt low-energy electron measurements is stressed. Finally a few general features of the interplay between accelerated ion beams, targets and recoil ion catchers particularly relevant for these measurements are broadly discussed and illustrated with typical examples of in-beam e-gamma studies. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.