A fast wide range single channel pulse height analyzer

Abstract

A fast wide range single channel pulse height analyzer is described. The circuit has a double pulse resolution of 40 ns and its dynamic range is 0.1–10 V. The circuit includes a pair of tunnel diodes as current discriminators. The conventional univibrators have been replaced by a single timing circuit which linearly varies the bias of both an output and a reset tunnel diode trigger. The upper channel, when activated, prevents the generation of an output pulse by changing the differential bias of the two triggers. The introduction of a threshold trigger in the timing circuit prevents the generation of multiple output pulses in response to a wide input. An output is generated only in response to the leading edge of an input pulse.