The ISOLDE Solenoidal Spectrometer (ISS) comprises a hexagonal tube of position sensitive silicon sensors placed along the axis of a 4T ex-MRI solenoid magnet. A thin plastic foil “target” containing hydrogen nuclei will be placed near the centre of the magnet and bombarded by beams of accelerated radioactive nuclei provided by HIE-ISOLDE. The ions emitted in these nuclear reactions will be bent by the magnetic field so they follow spiral paths until they reach the silicon tube, which will measure their energies and where they strike the sensors. These measurements will allow scientists to learn about the forces at work inside atomic nuclei and study some of the nuclear reactions that are thought to take place in exploding stars, leading to the creation of heavy elements.
Further information about the different components are given in the following pages:
