TUKAN-an 8K pulse height analyzer and multi-channel scaler with a PCI or a USB interface

Abstract

In this paper we present two types of 8K-channel analyzers designed for spectroscopy and intensity versus time measurements. The first type (Tukan-8K-PCI) incorporates a PCI interface and is designed to be plugged into a PCI slot of a normal PC. The second type (Tukan-8K-USB) incorporates a USB interface. It is mounted in a separate screened box and can be powered either directly from the USB port or from an external dc source (wall adapter or battery). Each type of device may operate in either of two independent operational modes: Multi Channel Analysis (MCA) and Multi-Channel Scaling (MCS). The most crucial component for the MCA mode-the Peak Detect and Hold circuit-is featuring a novel architecture based on a diamond transistor. Its analog stage can accept analog pulses with rise times as short as 100 ns and has a differential linearity below 1% with sliding scale averaging over the full scale. The functionality includes automatic stop on a programmable count in the Region-Of-Interest (ROI) and on preset live- or real time. The MCS mode works at medium counting rates of up to 8 MHz. The dwell time, the number of channels and single or multi-sweep mode may be preset. Each of these parameters can also be controlled externally via four user configurable logical I/O lines. A single Altera FLEX 10KE30 FPGA provides all control functions and incorporates PCI interface. The USB interface is based on FTDI FIFO controller. Advanced and user-friendly software has been developed for the analyzer