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

Fusion in neutron-rich environments is presently the topic of considerable interest. Recently, the viability of investigating near-barrier fusion with low-intensity ( 10⁴ ions/s), reaccelerated, radioactive beams was demonstrated by the measurement of the fusion excitation function for 39^,47K + ²⁸Si. 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^,45K + ²⁸Si and 36^,44Ar + ²⁸Si 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 3 -fold increase in the data collected) will be discussed. Preliminary analysis yielding the experimental fusion excitation functions will be presented.

U.S. Department of Energy under Grant Nos. DE-FG02-88ER-40404.