A CMOS detector leakage current self-adaptable continuous reset system: Theoretical analysis

A continuous reset system for the discharge of the feedback capacitance of integrated charge preamplifiers is presented. The system, based on the use of a FET operating in the saturation region, is self-adaptable with respect to a wide range of detector leakage currents. A circuit which provides compensation of the signal from the charge amplifier is also proposed. The noise analysis, which takes into account both the stationary and non-stationary noise contributions and the effect of the rate, shows that the system, when carefully designed, can offer good signal/noise performance for applications in γ-ray and high-energy X-ray spectroscopy. Practical layout considerations are also made.