Scintillator-specific optimization of 2-bit sigma-delta modulation A/D for gamma-ray pulse waveform capture

Maria Ruiz-Gonzalez, Lars R. Furenlid

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Scintillator-based gamma-ray detectors convert gamma-ray photons into a burst of scintillation photons, and then into a pulse-shaped electrical signal. By digitizing the pulse waveform, analyses that require information about the shape of the pulse can be performed, such as pulse-shape discrimination, pile-up detection and maximum-likelihood event-parameter estimation of position, energy and time. We have developed an analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) method that hugely reduces the complexity of the data-acquisition (DAQ) system while retaining pulse-shape information, and increases the amount of information that can be extracted from detected gamma rays compared to analog methods. The new DAQ system is based on a modified 2-bit sigma-delta modulator (SDM), in which the possible outputs (00, 01, 10 and 11) are decoded in such a way that they don't necessarily maintain a linear relationship between them. This makes it possible to optimize the SDM algorithm for different characteristic pulse shapes in order to extract as much information as possible. The optimization method that we present in this work is scintillation-crystal specific, but the use of the ADC method is not limited to gamma-ray detection.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationRadiation Detectors in Medicine, Industry, and National Security XIX
EditorsH. Bradford Barber, Lars R. Furenlid, Gary P. Grim
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781510620971
DOIs
StatePublished - 2018
EventRadiation Detectors in Medicine, Industry, and National Security XIX 2018 - San Diego, United States
Duration: Aug 22 2018Aug 23 2018

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume10763
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Other

OtherRadiation Detectors in Medicine, Industry, and National Security XIX 2018
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Diego
Period8/22/188/23/18

Keywords

  • Analog-to-digital conversion
  • Pulse waveform
  • Scintillation crystal
  • Sigma-delta modulation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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