Digital Data Acquisition Modules for Instrumenting Large Segmented Germanium Detector Arrays
XIA LLC has developed a 16-channel digital gamma-ray spectrometer (DGF Pixie-16) and associated electronics for instrumenting segmented germanium detector systems with large numbers of channels. The Pixie-16 is a CompactPCI/PXI-based data acquisition module equipped with 100 MHz 12-bit digitizers, signal processing field programmable gate arrays and a digital signal processor. Housed in a custom 6U PXI chassis, its operation can be extended to multiple chassis by using modules which distribute clock and triggers between chassis in LVDS format to achieve high speed and low distortion transmission. XIA LLC has collaborated with the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) at Michigan State University in the construction of a fully Digital Data Acquisition System (DDAS) for instrumenting the 594-channel Segmented Germanium Array (SeGA) at NSCL. Using its gamma-ray tracking capability and consequently improved precision in determining gamma-ray interaction positions in the SeGA detectors, the DDAS will significantly improve their ability to determine gamma-ray emission angles and thus achieve better Doppler corrections. In this paper, we demonstrate the capability to achieve sub-nanosecond timing resolution when capturing waveforms in modules across multiple chassis in response to common global triggers. We then discuss the NSCL DDAS firmware solution, especially considering its capability for data acquisition with near zero dead times.
Related Articles
Network Time Synchronization of the Readout Electronics for a New Radioactive Gas Detection System
In systems with multiple radiation detectors, time synchronization of the data collected from different detectors is essential to reconstruct multidetector events such as scattering and coincidences. In cases where the number of detectors exceeds the readout channels...
Electronics Upgrades to the Green Is Clean Phoswich Detector Systems and Programmatic Implementation at LANL – Phase II Completion – 18403
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) radiological facilities produce low-density room trash that, in many cases, is not contaminated with radioactivity. It has been estimated that 50 to 90% of low-density room trash is free of radioactive contamination and eligible...
New Algorithms for Improved Digital Pulse Arrival Timing With Sub-GSps ADCs
The ability to measure pulse times of arrival with resolutions at or below 100 ps is becoming increasingly desirable in various fields, typically for signals originating from photon detectors such as photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) or silicon photo-multipliers. Achieving...