Digital Front-End Electronics for the Neutron Detector NEDA

Author

Egea Canet, F.J. ; Houarner, C. ; Boujrad, A. ; Gonzalez, V. ; Tripon, M. ; Jastrzab, M. ; Triossi, A. ; de France, G. ; Gadea, A. ; Valiente-Dobon, J.J. ; Barrientos, D. ; Sanchis, E. ; Blaizot, M. ; Bourgault, P. ; de Angelis, G. ; Erduran, M.N. ; Ertur

Author_Institution

Dept. d´Eng. Electron., Univ. de Valencia, Valencia, Spain

Volume

62

Issue

3

fYear

2015

fDate

Jun-15

Firstpage

1063

Lastpage

1069

Abstract

This paper presents the design of the NEDA (Neutron Detector Array) electronics, a first attempt to involve the use of digital electronics in large neutron detector arrays. Starting from the front-end modules attached to the PMTs (PhotoMultiplier Tubes) and ending up with the data processing workstations, a comprehensive electronic system capable of dealing with the acquisition and pre-processing of the neutron array is detailed. Among the electronic modules required, we emphasize the front-end analog processing, the digitalization, digital pre-processing and communications firmware, as well as the integration of the GTS (Global Trigger and Synchronization) system, already used successfully in AGATA (Advanced Gamma Tracking Array). The NEDA array will be available for measurements in 2016.

Keywords

firmware; neutron detection; nuclear electronics; photomultipliers; synchronisation; Advanced Gamma Tracking Array; GTS system; Global Trigger and Synchronization system; NEDA electronics; Neutron Detector Array electronics; communications firmware; data processing workstations; digital front-end electronics; digital preprocessing; front-end analog processing; front-end modules; neutron array; photomultiplier tubes; Arrays; Detectors; Educational institutions; Neutrons; Noise; Physics; Synchronization; Digital systems; front-end electronics; neutron detectors; neutron-gamma discrimination;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Nuclear Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9499

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TNS.2015.2392159

Filename

7044610