Encore: An Active Target Detector for measurements of Fusion Reactions.

Beams of Exotic nuclei are on the forefront of nuclear science due to the development of new experimental facilities around the world. With them, new detector systems are needed to exploit these beams to their greatest extent. Measuring fusion excitation functions of systems involving these exotic beams near the coulomb barrier will help understand fusion dynamics process, probe theoretical developments as well as energy production within stars. At Florida State University, we have developed Encore, a MUSIC-type detector which is a Multi Sampling Ionization Chamber working as an active target detector. Encore is based on the MUSIC detector at ANL. Its main detection principle consists of a segmented anode which measures the energy loss of a beam and the subsequent reactions as it travels through the detector. This allows measurements of reactions in a wide range of energies that depend on the initial beam energy and gas pressure inside the detector. Results on the characterization of this detector and preliminary results of first measurements will be presented.