Proton detection with large-acceptance scintillator detection systems in electron-scattering environments

Two highly segmented plastic-scintillator arrays have been developed for pr oton detection in electron scattering experiments. The detectors subtend so lid angles of 225 and 550 msr and cover energy ranges of 50-225 and 25-165 MeV, respectively. The charge and arrival time of each photomultiplier sign al are digitized by flash ADCs and temporarily stored in a dual-port memory . The readout parameters are computer controlled, tuned, and monitored. The se detectors have been employed in (e, e'p) and (e, e'pp) experiments for p roton emission angles greater than 30 degrees and for luminosities up to 10 (36) nucleons cm(-2) s(-1). The singles counting rates in the scintillator elements of the first layers were about 0.5 x 10(6) particles s(-1) and the trigger rate 1 MHz. The measured resolution in the excitation energy and t iming spectra are 2.7% and 0.7 ns, respectively. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.