A simple software technique for resolution improvement in time spectroscopy measurements

Abstract

Time spectroscopy measurements, such as in neutron time-of-flight experiments, are limited in resolution by random walk of the pick-off time marking the arrival of a timing pulse due to variations in the pulse amplitude and shape, as well as time jitter introduced by additive noise. Hardware techniques, such as the constant fraction discrimination, are employed to improve the pick-off accuracy, but residual variations remain since improvement in the performance with walk is usually obtained at the expense of increased jitter. The author describes a simple software approach for further improvement of the timing resolution through the on-line averaging of a number of successive time measurements. Results are presented for the application of the technique to simulation data as well as to experimental data pertaining to resolution measurements on an NE213 scintillation detector. An account of possible applications for the proposed technique is given.