Numerical modelling of active target time projection chamber for low-energy nuclear physics

Abstract A numerical model based on hydrodynamic approach has been developed to emulate the device dynamics of active target Time Projection Chamber which is utilized for studying nuclear reaction through three-dimensional tracking of concerned low-energy particles. The proposed model has been used to investigate the performance of a prototype active target Time Projection Chamber, namely SAT-TPC, to be fabricated at Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, for its application in nuclear physics experiments. A case study of non-relativistic elastic scattering 4 He + 12 C with beam energy 25 MeV and current 2.3 pA has been opted for this purpose. The effect of beam induced space charge on the tracking performance the SAT-TPC prototype has been studied to optimize the beam current and scheme of the anode readout segmentation. The model has been validated by comparing its results to that of a particle model used to explain observed distortion in scattered particle tracks in a low-energy nuclear physics experiment.