A RANGE TELESCOPE TECHNIQUE FOR PARTICLE DISCRIMINATION AND ENERGY RECONSTRUCTION

We present an analysis technique (''range method'') that optimizes particle discrimination and enables energy reconstruction using a sampling detector. The method is a powerful extension of the well known d E/dx - E technique in which the energy loss rate measured by several scintillator layers is fitted on the theoretical energy-range curves. The general features of the method will be discussed and its application to nuclear physics investigations at intermediate energies with the DAPHNE detector. Momentum reconstruction for protons with a resolution of DELTAP/P = 2.5-10% (FWHM) in the range P = 300-900 MeV/c has been obtained.