HERACLES : a multidetector for heavy-ion collisions at TRIUMF

HERACLES is a multidetector that has been modified to study heavy-ion collisions, using an ion beam with an energy range between 8 to 15 MeV per nucleon. It has 78 detectors axially distributed around the beam axis in 6 rings allowing detection of multiple charged fragments from nuclear reactions. HERACLES has 4 different types of detectors, BC408/BaF2 phoswich, Si/CsI(Tl) telescope, BC408/BC444 phoswich and CsI(Tl) detectors. 25 Na + 12 C, 25 Na + 27 Al, 25 Mg + 12 C and 25 Mg + 27 Al reactions have been used to characterize the multidetector. Element identification up to Z = 12 is achieved with the BC408/BaF2 phoswich detectors, up to Z = 15 with the Si/CsI(Tl) telescopes and up to Z = 12 with the BC408/BC444 phoswich detectors. Isotopic identification is reached with the CsI(Tl) detector up to Z = 2.