STARE: a new detector array for exploring the breakup reaction mechanisms induced by weakly bound nuclei

A new detector array with a large solid angle coverage for the coincidence measurement of charged fragments was developed to study the breakup reaction mechanisms of weakly bound nuclear systems at energies around the Coulomb barrier. The array has been used to explore the breakup reaction mechanisms of 6,7Li + 209Bi systems at Ebeam = 30, 40, 47 MeV, showing good performance in particle identification and complete kinematic measurements. Based on this, different breakup modes and breakup components were clearly distinguished, and some new breakup modes were discovered, such as 7Li →α + t breakup mode in 6Li + 209Bi system and 7Li →6He + p breakup mode in 7Li + 209Bi system. This array can also be used to explore other breakup reaction mechanisms induced by weakly bound nuclei.