A Pulse Amplitude Analyzer for Nuclear Research Using Pretreated Pulses

Abstract

A pulse analyzer is an instrument used to record the number of pulses occurring in a given time whose amplitudes lie between certain limits. In the present equipment records are obtained from 30 ``channels'' simultaneously, the upper amplitude limit for any one channel being the lower amplitude limit of the next. Used in conjunction with an ionization chamber and linear amplifier of suitable design, the equipment gives detailed information of the frequency of occurrence of ionization pulses of various amplitudes. The present equipment is an advance over previous designs in several respects. It is designed to deal with relatively fast counting rates and with pulses having a wide variety of shapes and durations. In order to avoid having to change the circuits of each of the 30 channel units to suit the pulse shape, the pulses are ``pretreated'' to yield signals of standard form before being passed to the channels for analysis. Further advantages of the present equipment concern the ease of calibration and of monitoring the behavior of the circuits. The whole is built into a console of convenient shape and reasonable mobility. Interchangeable plug‐in channel units are employed.