Development of an FPGA‐Based Pulse‐Height Analyzer for Scintillation Detectors in Gamma Energy Spectroscopy

Abstract

This study presents the development of a Pulse Height Analyzer (PHA) using an FPGA‐based hardware platform, specifically the National Instruments MyRIO embedded device, for radiation detectors. Electronic pulses generated by the detector when exposed to radiation are triggered, digitized, and transferred to a data buffer. A pulse height analysis tool categorizes these pulses and stores pulse‐height information in registers or channels, enabling the construction of a pulse‐height distribution. The data of pulse‐height distribution is then recorded on a computer via a user‐friendly interface. The Pulse Height Analyzer was implemented using a 3‐inch by 3‐inch NaI(Tl) scintillation detector for gamma energy measurements, employing standard radioisotopes Na‐22 and Co‐60. Gamma energy spectra were acquired and analyzed. Our results demonstrate that the achieved energy resolution is comparable to that of the commercial Pulse Height Analyzers, such as EASY‐MCA 2K, a product of AMETEK Inc. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.