Charge identification of fragments with the emulsion spectrometer of the FOOT experiment

Galati, G.; Alexandrov, A.; Alpat, B.; Ambrosi, G.; Argiro, S.; Diaz, R. A.; Bartosik, N.; Battistoni, G.; Belcari, N.; Bellinzona, E.; Biondi, S.; Bisogni, M. G.; Bruni, G.; Carra, P.; Cerello, P.; Ciarrocchi, E.; Clozza, A.; Colombi, S.; Guerra, A. D.; Simoni, M. D.; Di Crescenzo, A.; Ruzza, B. D.; Donetti, M.; Dong, Y.; Durante, M.; Faccini, R.; Ferrero, V.; Fiandrini, E.; Finck, C.; Fiorina, E.; Fischetti, M.; Francesconi, M.; Franchini, M.; Franciosini, G.; Galli, L.; Gentile, V.; Giraudo, G.; Hetzel, R.; Iarocci, E.; Ionica, M.; Iuliano, A.; Kanxheri, K.; Kraan, A. C.; Lante, V.; Tessa, C. L.; Laurenza, M.; Lauria, A.; Torres, E. L.; Marafini, M.; Massimi, C.; Mattei, I.; Mengarelli, A.; Moggi, A.; Montesi, M. C.; Morone, M. C.; Morrocchi, M.; Muraro, S.; Murtas, F.; Pastore, A.; Pastrone, N.; Patera, V.; Pennazio, F.; Placidi, P.; Pullia, M.; Raffaelli, F.; Ramello, L.; Ridolfi, R.; Rosso, V.; Sanelli, C.; Sarti, A.; Sartorelli, G.; Sato, O.; Savazzi, S.; Scavarda, L.; Schiavi, A.; Schuy, C.; Scifoni, E.; Sciubba, A.; Secher, A.; Selvi, M.; Servoli, L.; Silvestre, G.; Sitta, M.; Spighi, R.; Spiriti, E.; Sportelli, G.; Stahl, A.; Tioukov, V.; Tomassini, S.; Tommasino, F.; Toppi, M.; Traini, G.; Valle, S. M.; Vanstalle, M.; Villa, M.; Weber, U.; Zarrella, R.; Zoccoli, A.; De Lellis, G.

doi:10.1515/phys-2021-0032

The FOOT (FragmentatiOn Of Target) experiment is an international project designed to carry out the fragmentation cross-sectional measurements relevant for charged particle therapy (CPT), a technique based on the use of charged particle beams for the treatment of deep-seated tumors. The FOOT detector consists of an electronic setup for the identification of Z ≥ 3 fragments and an emulsion spectrometer for Z ≤ 3 fragments. The first data taking was performed in 2019 at the GSI facility (Darmstadt, Germany). In this study, the charge identification of fragments induced by exposing an emulsion detector, embedding a C2 H4 target, to an oxygen ion beam of 200 MeV/n is discussed. The charge identification is based on the controlled fading of nuclear emulsions in order to extend their dynamic range in the ionization response.