Minimum dispersion in leading edge timing with coaxial Ge(Li) detectors

Abstract

Time variances due to systematic walk and noise jitter are analytically performed as a function of integration time in leading-edge timing with coaxial Ge(Li) detectors for several values of the trigger fraction and the geometrical factor. This reveals the existence of a minimum in the curve which represents the total timing error vs the integration time constant. The best time resolution of a specified detector is achieved when the RC-filtered signal has a time constant (in ns) that is numerically equal to the thickness (in mm) of the detector depletion layer.