Particle emission angle determination in Frisch grid ionization chambers by electron drift-time measurements

The double kinetic energy measurement of fission fragments with a double-sided Frisch grid ionization chamber allows a careful determination of the emission angle, which is essential in order to apply appropriate energy-loss corrections. We present a drift-time method, which uses the time that free electrons need to drift from the location of their creation, e.g. by a fission fragment in the counting gas, to the grid, before inducing a signal on the anode. Such a measurement leaves energy and angular information fully decoupled. We demonstrate the applicability of the drift-time method for the example of the 234,238U (γ,f) reactions performed at the superconducting Darmstadt electron linear accelerator. The angular resolutions achieved with this method are comparable to those obtained with other methods.