Instrumentation for Radiation Measurements

Course guarantor:

Lecturer:

Tutor:

Supervisor:

Department of Dosimetry and Application of Ionizing Radiation

Synopsis:

The lecture focuses on ionizing radiation detector signal processing, data acquisition and data processing. Among others, the most important topics are: energetic spectrometry, time spectrometry, coincidence measurements, pulse shape discrimination and spectrum deconvolution.

Integral parts of the subject are several laboratory exercises. Thus, students are able to obtain practical experience and skills. The exercises are focused on detector signal processing by NIM standard electronic modules mostly. Students will learn how to operate an oscilloscope at advanced level as well. Absolvents should be able to design, build, operate and execute diagnostics of simple electronic circuit made of NIM standard modules.

Requirements:

Knowledge of the detectors of ionizing radiation and overview of electronics.

Syllabus of lectures:

1. Basic systems for ionizing radiation measurement, pulse electronics, signal, impedance, C-R and RC circuits, detector signal

2. Detector connection, HV feeding and signal take off of various detector types by means of one coaxial cable, simultaneous interaction time and amplitude measurement (scintillation and semiconductor detectors.

3. Voltage and charge sensitive preamplifiers, noise problematic, resistive feedback preamplifier, active reset preamplifier, signal RESET (INHIBIT). Charge gain-input capacity dependences for voltage preamplifier

4. Spectroscopy amplifiers. Amplifying, linearity and overshooting. Signal shaping, P/Z cancellation, base line restorer (BLR), PUR and their set-up. Gated integrator.

5. Shape, time and amplitude measurements. Pulse shape discrimination. Reference time, coincidence/anticoincidence, resolving time. Analog pulse amplitude measurement, single channel analyzers. Analog-to-digital converters.

6. Multichannel analysis. Principles, PHA and MCS operation modes. Dead time, spectrum stabilization. DSP.

7. Spectrum evaluation. Response function, deconvolution, stripping, smoothing, peak analysis. Numerical processing.

8. Low and high voltages power supplies for nuclear electronics, requirements and construction. Protection circuits. Low dc current and charge measurement.

9. Modular systems NIM, CAMAC, VME. Analog and logic signals standards. Data acquisition and computer control.

Syllabus of tutorials:

1. Basic systems for ionizing radiation measurement, pulse electronics, signal, impedance, C-R and RC circuits, detector signal

2. Detector connection, HV feeding and signal take off of various detector types by means of one coaxial cable, simultaneous interaction time and amplitude measurement (scintillation and semiconductor detectors.

3. Voltage and charge sensitive preamplifiers, noise problematic, resistive feedback preamplifier, active reset preamplifier, signal RESET (INHIBIT). Charge gain-input capacity dependences for voltage preamplifier

4. Spectroscopy amplifiers. Amplifying, linearity and overshooting. Signal shaping, P/Z cancellation, base line restorer (BLR), PUR and their set-up. Gated integrator.

5. Shape, time and amplitude measurements. Pulse shape discrimination. Reference time, coincidence/anticoincidence, resolving time. Analog pulse amplitude measurement, single channel analyzers. Analog-to-digital converters.

6. Multichannel analysis. Principles, PHA and MCS operation modes. Dead time, spectrum stabilization. DSP.

7. Spectrum evaluation. Response function, deconvolution, stripping, smoothing, peak analysis. Numerical processing.

8. Low and high voltages power supplies for nuclear electronics, requirements and construction. Protection circuits. Low dc current and charge measurement.

9. Modular systems NIM, CAMAC, VME. Analog and logic signals standards. Data acquisition and computer control.

Study Objective:

Knowledge:

An overview of the methodology of signal processing and its use for spectroscopy of ionizing radiation.

Skills:

Ability to work with spectroscopy electronics and to handle obtained results.

Study materials:

Key references:

[1] Iniewski, K., Electronics for Radiation Detectors, CSC Press, 2010

[2] S.N. Ahmed: Physics & Engineering of Radiation Detection, Elsevier, 2nd edition, 2015

Recommended references:

[3] Knoll G.F., Radiation Detection and Measurement, 4th Edition, Wiley, 2012

Note:

Further information:

No time-table has been prepared for this course

The course is a part of the following study plans:

• Jaderné inženýrství - Aplikovaná fyzika ionizujícího záření (PS)
• Radiolgická fyzika (elective course)