Improvement of signal readout in charge division type position sensitive proportional counter.

Abstract

It is generally difficult to insert a position sensitive proportional counter (PSPC) with a conventional charge division in a narrow space, or to work the counter under special environments, such as in water or in a reactor. We improved the position signal readout to make it possible to use a PSPC under such environments. A position signal was extracted from only one end of an anode wire by grounding the other end through a capacitor and a total charge signal was obtained from twelve cathode wires stretched parallel to the anode wire, so that two pre-amplifiers were able to be connected at only one end of the counter. The characteristics of the PSPC with the improved signal readout were examined with X-rays. The position resolution was 1.3 mm with an effective length of 550 mm, and depended on the X-ray injection position. A non-linearity of position signals was less than 0.2%.