Measuring the fusion excitation functions for $^{41,45}K + $^{28}Si and $^{36,44}Ar + $^{28}Si

Fusion in neutron-rich environments is presently the topic of considerable interest. Recently, the viability of investigating near-barrier fusion with low-intensity ($\approx$10$^{4}$ ions/s), reaccelerated, radioactive beams was demonstrated by the measurement of the fusion excitation function for $^{39,47}$K + $^{28}$Si. Experiments for an isotopic chain allow systematic exploration of the dependence of fusion on neutron number. To expand the study of this system away from the closed N=20 and N=28 shells and to explore the role of the unpaired proton, Experiment 17002 was conducted at NSCL’s ReA3 facility. The experiment measured the fusion cross-section in $^{41,45}K + $^{28}Si and $^{36,44}Ar + $^{28}Si for E/A = 2-3 MeV/A, by directly measuring and identifying fusion products using E-TOF. Details of the experimental setup including improvements to the geometric efficiency will be shown. Implementation of a fast veto of elastically-scattered beam particles (yielding $\approx$3-fold increase in the data collected) will be discussed. Preliminary analysis yielding the experimental fusion excitation functions will be presented.