Neutron capture reactions for nuclear astrophysics: Development & characterization of an innovative detection setup based on trans-Stilbene organic scintillators

Neutron capture reactions are essential for understanding stellar nucleosynthesis beyond iron and the formation of elements in the universe. This study presents the development and characterization of a novel detection setup utilizing trans-Stilbene organic scintillators, developed at DFA (Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia "Ettore Majorana", Catania) and INFN-CT, to enhance neutron capture measurements for nuclear astrophysics. A fully symmetrical multi-detector array was created, arranging the trans-Stilbene modules in a regular tetrahedral configuration to optimize geometric efficiency. The detectors were evaluated under various operation modes (pulse height/charge) and tested for neutron/gamma discrimination using Pulse Shape Discrimination (PSD). Additionally, a multivariate approach employing Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was implemented to handle multiple pulse characteristic parameters effectively. The results highlight the potential of trans-Stilbene detectors to replace traditional C6D6 detectors at n_TOF/CERN, offering improved performance. The study also underscores their promising applications in both elastic and inelastic neutron scattering reactions, reinforcing their versatility and enhanced suitability for nuclear astrophysics research.