A fast, versatile single dual-parameter multichannel analyzer

The design of a single dual-parameter multichannel pulse-height analyzer is reported. The analyzer is especially cut out for pulse-height spectrum measurements from high counting rate sources. The instrumentation-peculiar characteristics are as follows: (1) the true acquisition phase is an autonomous one; (2) the analyzer has a count capacity of 2³²-1 counts/channel, a minimum dead time of 200 ns, and a maximum conversion gain of 2²⁰ channels; (3) the measurement points can be grouped in measurement blocks (MBK); (4) the acquired data are transferred from the instrumentation to the computer under interrupt control-several interrupt possibilities are foreseen for the sake of flexibility; and (5) the system is constructed from commercially available components