The DGF Pixie-4 spectrometer – compact digital readout electronics for HPGe clover detectors

Hennig, Wolfgang; Chu, Y.; Tan, Hui; Fallu-Labruyere, A.; Warburton, W. K.; Grzywacz, R.

doi:10.1016/j.nimb.2007.04.079

Cited by 33 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…The data-acquisition system for the spectrometer utilizes all-digital electronics, based on the Pixie-4 module (XIA LLC, 31057 Genstar Road, Hayward, CA 94544) [13]. The Pixie-4 is a four-channel digital pulse-processing module deployed in compact peripheral component interconnect (PCI) for instrumentation (PXI) architecture.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

On neutron activation analysis with γγ coincidence spectrometry

Zeisler

Cho

Ribeiro

et al. 2017

J Radioanal Nucl Chem

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A new γγ coincidence system has been set up at NIST. It is operated with a digital data finder supported by new software developed at NIST. The system is used to explore possible enhancements in instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and study applicability to neutron capture prompt gamma activation analysis (PGAA). The performance of the system is tested with certified reference materials for efficiency calibration and quantitative performance. Comparisons of INAA results based on conventional gamma-ray spectrometry data with INAA results based on coincidence data obtained from the same samples show improvements in the counting uncertainties and demonstrates the quantitative accuracy of the new system.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

On neutron activation analysis with γγ coincidence spectrometry

Zeisler

Cho

Ribeiro

et al. 2017

J Radioanal Nucl Chem

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“…Detector, PMT and PSM are surrounded by 25 mm lead and packaged into a customized carrying case, total weight 32 kg. A single multi-signal cable connects the detector case to a PXI chassis with a XIA DGF Pixie-4 electronics module [28], which digitizes the detector signal, tags LED pulses for alternate processing, and applies the pulse shape analysis to detect coincidences and accumulate beta, gamma, and coincidence spectra [11]. A simplified software interface, Mobile OP, allows gain calibration and data acquisition, generating spectra files compatible with the IMS data standard.…”

Section: Detector Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

Development of a Phoswich Detector for Radioxenon Field Measurements

Hennig

Asztalos

Warburton

et al. 2014

IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci.

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The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization deploys a variety of radioxenon detection systems as part of its International Monitoring System to detect nuclear explosions. To achieve the high sensitivity required, the systems extract xenon from several cubic meters of air and look for characteristic radioactive emissions, using either high resolution high purity germanium gamma detectors or multiple scintillators for high efficiency beta/gamma coincidence detection. The high sensitivity comes at the expense of heavy lead shielding, and for the latter, calibration and gain matching of multiple photomultiplier tubes as well as a memory effect of the plastic scintillator used for beta detection which absorbs Xe. Existing systems are also stationary by design, though in some applications, for example on-site inspections, a portable detector is required. In this work, we therefore redesigned a previously developed phoswich detector to reduce size, weight, cost, complexity and memory effect with only minor impact on the sensitivity. The phoswich design requires only a single photomultiplier tube with beta/gamma coincidences being detected by digital pulse shape analysis. Additional gain stabilization addresses varying environmental field conditions, such as temperature changes. Three phoswich geometries were modeled through Monte Carlo simulations, the most promising was built and tested. In this paper we describe each of the initial designs, their simulated performances and the factors that lead us to the chosen design. Preliminary results from testing of the prototype detector are presented and compared with simulation.

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“…These multi-channel coincidence spectrometers with a Compact PCI interface share clock and trigger signals over a PXI backplane and are intended for small to medium nuclear physics setups [1]. The 4 channel Pixie-4 (3U format) is flexible enough for small prototype systems, and the 16 channel Pixie-16 (6U format) handles larger channel count applications.…”

Section: Dgf-pixie Hardwarementioning

confidence: 99%

“…This class of CFD is readily implemented in modern FPGAs using FIFOs (for D), shift registers (for F), and accumulators (for L). Linear interpolation can either be done in the FPGA through successive approximations or carried out in the DSP [1]. In this work we computed zero crossing times by simple linear interpolation between the first CFTrace points above and below zero.…”

Section: Cfd Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%