General purpose pulse shape analysis for fast scintillators implemented in digital readout electronics

Abstract

Pulse shape discrimination applied to certain fast scintillators is usually performed offline. In sufficiently high-event rate environments data transfer and storage become problematic, which suggests a different analysis approach. In response, we have implemented a general purpose pulse shape analysis algorithm in the XIA Pixie-500 and Pixie-500 Express digital spectrometers. In this implementation waveforms are processed in real time, reducing the pulse characteristics to a few pulse shape analysis parameters and eliminating time-consuming waveform transfer and storage. We discuss implementation of these features, their advantages, necessary trade-offs and performance. Measurements from bench top and experimental setups using fast scintillators and XIA processors are presented.

Development and characterization of detectors for large area application in neutron scattering and small area application in neutron reflectometry

“…In particular, several pulse shape and real time analysis approaches were proposed [89,187,188,189,190,191,192,193,194], including the use of Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) to perform real time operations on the detected signals. In a recent paper [185], from the group of Perugia, is reported on the use of an FPGA-based system for single-event time of flight (ToF) applications as a practical tool to eliminate the time uncertainty on the collection time at the detector.…”

Pulse shape analysis of neutron signals in Si-based detectors

“…Over the last years, large effort was spent in designing and testing new neutron detectors and in developing better approaches to discriminate neutron signals against the background radiation, as well as to analyze the detector and electronic noise. In particular, several pulse shape and real time analysis approaches were proposed [14][15][16][17][18][19], including the use of Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) to perform real time operations on the detected signals. In a recent paper [20] we reported on the use of an FPGAbased system for single-event time of flight (ToF) applications as a practical tool to eliminate the time uncertainty on the collection time at the detector.…”