The extraction and smoothing algorithms for y-ray spectrum of a CdZnTe detector system

The extraction algorithms for pulse amplitude and smoothing of energy spectrum have a great influence on energy spectrum of y-rays during the digital detection and analysis procedure. For a CdZnTe digital y detector system, different extraction algorithms for pulse amplitude and smoothing of energy spectrum are discussed in this paper. The results show that extraction of pulse amplitude using the first-order derivative method and smoothing of energy spectrum using the wavelet transformation method may obtain energy spectrum with good performance.     

Study of Sallen–Key digital filters in nuclear pulse signal processing

The Sallen–Key filter(S–K) is widely used in nuclear pulse signal processing because of its simple working principle and good performance. Related research has only reviewed the recursive numerical model of digital S–K using idealized parameters. The use of digital S–K thus has limitations under these circumstances. This paper comprehensively deduces a recursive numerical model of digital S–K and discusses the effects of resistance and capacitance on the filter quality factor, cutoff frequency and amplitude–frequency response. The numerical recursive function, transfer function and amplitude–frequency response are analyzed using different parameters. From a comparative analysis of the shaper in a simulation and an actual nuclear signal, an optimal parameter selection principle is obtained. Using different forming parameters,the energy resolution and pulse counting rate of the ~(55)Fe energy spectrum are compared and analyzed based on a SiPIN detector. Capacitance has a stronger influence on the Gaussian shape, whereas the influence of resistance is stronger on the shaping amplitude.     

Optimal parameter choice of CR–RC~m digital filter in nuclear pulse processing

CR–RC~m filters are widely used in nuclear energy spectrum measurement systems. The choice of parameters of a CR–RC~m digital filter directly affects its performance in terms of energy resolution and pulse count rate in digital nuclear spectrometer systems. A numerical recursive model of a CR differential circuit and RC integration circuit is derived, which shows that the shaping result of CR–RC~m is determined by the adjustment parameter(k, it determines the shaping time of the shaper)and the integral number(m). Furthermore, the amplitude–frequency response of CR–RC~m is analyzed, which shows that it is a bandpass filter; the larger the shaping parameters(k and m), the narrower is the frequency band. CR–RC~m digital Gaussian shaping is performed on the actual sampled nuclear pulse signal under different shaping parameters. The energy spectrum of ~(137)Cs is measured based on the LaBr_3(Ce) detector under different parameters. The results show that the larger the shaping parameters(m and k), the closer the shaping result is to Gaussian shape, the wider is the shaped pulse, the higher is the energy resolution, and the lower is the pulse count rate. For the same batch of pulse signals, the energy resolution is increased from 3.8 to 3.5%, and the full energy peak area is reduced from 7815 to 6503. Thus, the optimal shaping parameters are m=3 and k=0:95. These research results can provide a design reference for the development of digital nuclear spectrometer measurement systems.     

A new digital pulse processing method for 2πa and 2πβemitter measurement

Digital pulse processing has developed rapidly during recent years. Moreover, it has been widely applied in many fields. In this study, we introduce a digital pulse processing method for 2πa and 2πβemitter measurement. Our digital pulse processing method for 2πa and 2πβemitter measurement is comprised of a field-programmable gate-array-based acquisition card and a pulse-height anal-ysis routine. We established two channels (one for the a emitter and one for theβemitter) on an acquisition board using an analog-to-digital converter with a 16-bit resolu-tion at a speed of 100 million samples per second. In this study, we used captured and stored data to analyze emis-sion rate counts and spectrums. The method we established takes into account noise cancelation, dead-time correction, background subtraction, and zero-energy extrapolation. We carefully designed control procedures in order to simplify pulse-width fitting and threshold-level setting. We trans-mitted data and commands through a universal serial bus between the acquisition board and the computer. The results of our tests prove that our method performs well in pulse reconstruction fidelity and amplitude measurement accuracy. Compared with the current standard method for measuring 2πa and 2πβ emission rates, our system demonstrates excellent precision in emission rate counting.     

A new digital pulse processing method for 2πa and 2πb emitter measurement

Digital pulse processing has developed rapidly during recent years.Moreover,it has been widely applied in many fields.In this study,we introduce a digital pulse processing method for 2πa and 2πb emitter measurement.Our digital pulse processing method for 2πa and 2πb emitter measurement is comprised of a field-programmable gate-array-based acquisition card and a pulse-height analysis routine.We established two channels(one for the a emitter and one for the b emitter) on an acquisition board using an analog-to-digital converter with a 16-bit resolution at a speed of 100 million samples per second.In this study,we used captured and stored data to analyze emission rate counts and spectrums.The method we established takes into account noise cancelation,dead-time correction,background subtraction,and zero-energy extrapolation.We carefully designed control procedures in order to simplify pulse-width fitting and threshold-level setting.We transmitted data and commands through a universal serial bus between the acquisition board and the computer.The results of our tests prove that our method performs well in pulse reconstruction fidelity and amplitude measurement accuracy.Compared with the current standard method for measuring 2πa and 2πb emission rates,our system demonstrates excellent precision in emission rate counting.     

Development of a radiographic method for measuring the discrete spectrum of the electron beam from a plasma focus device

An indirect method is proposed for measuring the relative energy spectrum of the pulsed electron beam of a plasma focus device. The Bremsstrahlung x-ray, generated by the collision of electrons against the anode surface, was measured behind lead filters with various thicknesses using a radiographic film system. A matrix equation was considered in order to explain the relation between the x-ray dose and the spectral amplitudes of the electron beam. The electron spectrum of the device was measured at 0.6 mbar argon and 22 k V charging voltage, in four discrete energy intervals extending up to 500 ke V. The results of the experiments show that most of the electrons are emitted in the 125–375 ke V energy range and the spectral amplitude becomes negligible beyond 375 ke V.?     

A new digital Gaussian pulse shaping algorithm based on bilinear transformation

Nuclear pulse signal needs to be transformed to a suitable pulse shape to remove noise and improve energy resolution of a nuclear spectrometry system. In this paper, a new digital Gaussian shaping method is proposed.According to Sallen-Key analog Gaussian shaping filter circuits, the system function of Sallen-Key analog Gaussian shaping filter is deduced on the basis of Kirchhoff laws. The system function of the digital Gaussian shaping filter based on bilinear transformation is deduced too. The expression of unit impulse response of the digital Gaussian shaping filter is obtained by inverse z-transform. The response of digital Gaussian shaping filter is deduced from convolution sum of the unit impulse response and the digital nuclear pulse signal. The simulation and experimental results show that the digital nuclear pulse has been transformed to a pulse with a pseudo-Gaussian, which confirms the feasibility of the new digital Gaussian pulse shaping algorithm based on bilinear transformation.     

Optimal choice of trapezoidal shaping parameters in digital nuclear spectrometer system

Trapezoidal shaping method is widely applied to pulse amplitude extraction in digital nuclear spectrometer system, the optimal selection of the shaping parameters can improve the energy resolution and pulse counting rate. From the view of noise characteristics, ballistic deficit compensation characteristics and pulse pile-up characteristics, in this paper the optimal selection of the trapezoidal shaping parameters is studied on. According to the theoretical analysis and experimental verification, the optimal choice of trapezoidal shaping parameters is similar to the triangle, the rise time is longer and the fiat-top width is shorter.     

Optimization study on neutron spectrum unfolding based on the least-squares method

The response functions and pulse height spectrum(PHS) of a 2'×2' BC501A detector were obtained through a general-purpose Monte Carlo simulation toolkit,Geant4.A relatively simple but effective method was adopted to unfold the PHS.Recommendations regarding the response matrix were proposed to optimize the unfolding results.The results indicate that the accuracy of the unfolding can be greatly improved using many incident neutrons with a wide energy range,a proper energy interval,and an appropriate channel width of the response matrix.The above-mentioned method was verified by unfolding three different types of simulated spectrum,the results of which are in good accord with the simulated distribution.     

An acquisition system of digital nuclear signal processing for the algorithm development

A principle and method of constructing the digital acquisition system is presented in this work, which is convenient for the study on the theories and algorithms of digital nuclear signal processing. The hardware system of the digital acquisition system consists of front-end controller, waveform digitizer and PC workstation, on which the software system has been developed based on Visual C＋＋ under Windows environment. The alterable-frequency sampling （AFS） algorithm and the alterable-frequency trapezoidal filter （AFTF） algorithm have also been studied in the real-time environment, along with a digital nuclear spectrum acquisition system being set up based on the new algorithms and the γ-ray spectra of 241Am being shown. A useful experimental platform could be provided by this work for the successive work such as the development of global digitized nuclear measurement system and the study of digital nuclear signal processing.     

Improvement of digital S-K filter and its application in nuclear signal processing

On the basis of preliminary studies, a novel duo-parameter model consisting of amplitude filter factor and frequency filter factor for low-pass S-K filter is presented in this paper. The model is established by applying numerical differentiation method. Some simulation experiments and real data tests are carried out to verify the feasibility and superiority of the new algorithm. The results show that this duo-parameter model of low-pass S-K filter can be used to achieve high performance in signal processing and nuclear spectrum smoothing.     

Applying image processing method to treat digital signals

In this paper, we present a novel method for digital nuclear signal processing based on image processing and recognition, which can improve signal-to-noise ratio of digital nuclear signal effectively without changing the signal shape. The digital nuclear signal with a "time-amplitude" series is converted into a grayscale image with adjustable pixel size. Template of the converted image is extracted by means of modern image processing methods, such as spatial digital low-pass filtering, image binary and the skeleton extracting of images. The needed parameters are extracted from the template image. The method of template extracting presented in this paper can be used flexibly to extract template of nuclear signals, whether the whole or even part of that, and got multi templates corresponding to the whole or partial characters of the signals. The results of image processing,along with γ-ray energy spectrum of241 Am acquired by this method, show that the new method provides a way to develop future digital nuclear instruments of high efficiency and flexibility, high density and multi parameters.     

Coal analysis using the pulsed neutron generator

A prototype of elemental analyzer for coal has been developed by using a PFTNA (pulse fast thermal neutron analysis) system. The PFTNA technology is based on the reactions such as (n, γ), (n, n'γ), (n, pγ), etc. by examining the characteristic gamma rays emitted. In our prototype a pulsed neutron generator provides 14 MeV pulse neutrons, which contribute to the separation of spectrum II (the sum of capture and activation spectrum) from spectrum I (the sum of inelastic, capture and activation spectrum), and thus to the measurement of C and O contents in coal. Data management is completed by computer program using the least-square regression method. The experiment in Changshan Power Plant for 3 months showed that the precision of calorific value, whole water, volatile content and ash content is 0.5 kJ/kg, 1.0 wt%, 2.0 wt% and 1.5 wt%, respectively.     

Study of time-domain digital pulse shaping algorithms for nuclear signals

With the development on high-speed integrated circuit,fast high resolution sampling ADC and digital signal processors are replacing analog shaping amplifier circuit.This paper firstly presents the numerical analysis and simulation on R-C shaping circuit model and C-R shaping circuit model.Mathematic models are established based on 1st order digital differential method and Kirchhoff Current Law in time domain,and a simulation and error evaluation experiment on an ideal digital signal are carried out with Excel VBA.A digital shaping test for a semiconductor X-ray detector in real time is also presented.Then a numerical analysis for Sallen-Key(S-K) low-pass filter circuit model is implemented based on the analysis of digital R-C and digital C-R shaping methods.By applying the 2nd order non-homogeneous differential equation,the authors implement a digital Gaussian filter model for a standard exponential-decaying signal and a nuclear pulse signal.Finally,computer simulations and experimental tests are carried out and the results show the possibility of the digital pulse processing algorithms.     

Evaluation of D(d,n)~3He reaction neutron source models for BNCT irradiation system design

A mathematical method was developed to calculate the yield,energy spectrum and angular distribution of neutrons from D(d,n)~3He(D-D)reaction in a thick deuterium-titanium target for incident deuterons in energies lower than 1.0MeV.The data of energy spectrum and angular distribution were applied to set up the neutron source model for the beam-shaping-assembly(BSA)design of Boron-Neutron-Capture-Therapy(BNCT)using MCNP-4C code. Three cases of D-D neutron source corresponding to incident deuteron energy of 1000,400 and 150 key were inves- tigated.The neutron beam characteristics were compared with the model of a 2.45 MeV mono-energetic and isotropic neutron source using an example BSA designed for BNCT irradiation.The results show significant differences in the neutron beam characteristics,particularly the fast neutron component and fast neutron dose in air,between the non-isotropic neutron source model and the 2.5 MeV mono-euergetic and isotropic neutron source model.     

An efficient method and system for simultaneously measuring the performance of vast scintillating materials

A method and system for automatically and simultaneously measuring the light output of multiple scintillators,or each scintillating unit of an array,were developed.Using a large area flat panel PSPMT H8500,the light output and energy resolution were obtained automatically by comparing with reference scintillators or array using an Energy Table,Look-up Table and energy spectrum data.The aim of developing an efficient performance evaluation of scintillators was achieved.Using the method,a scintillator performance testing system was set up and six LYSO crystals and a 3×3 LYSO array were measured.The results showed that the light output and energy resolution were accurately measured automatically.The deviation of repeat measurements for the same sample was not more than 2%,and the nonlinear deviation of the system was not more than 3%.The system is suitable for measuring the performance of crystals,especially where the mass measurement of crystals and arrays is required.     

Toward real-time digital pulse process algorithms for CsI(Tl) detector array at external target facility in HIRFL-CSR

A fully digital data acquisition system based on a field-programmable gate array(FPGA) was developed for a CsI(Tl) array at the external target facility(ETF) in the Heavy Ion Research Facility in Lanzhou(HIRFL). To process the CsI(Tl) signals generated by γ-rays and light-charged ions, a scheme for digital pulse processing algorithms is proposed. Every step in the algorithms was benchmarked using standard γ and α sources. The scheme, which included a moving average filter, baseline restoration, ...     

Performance Calibration Using Cosmic Rays for the Multi-Neutron Correlation Spectrometer

Efficient calibration methods have been applied to a complex neutron detector array by using the cosmic-ray muons. Through a differential operation on the time difference spectrum, the two edges of this spectrum can be precisely determined, corresponding to the geometrical two ends of the bar, and therefore the relationship between the position and time difference spectrum can be deduced for each bar. The alignment between different bars is realized by choosing cosmic-rays which are perpendicular to the bars. The position resolutions are extracted through a track fitting procedure which uses all tracks detected coincidently by the whole system, together with a simulation analysis. A method is also developed to calibrate the deposited energy by using cosmicrays at different incident angles.     

An inversion decomposition test based on Monte Carlo response matrix on the γ-ray spectra from NaI(Tl) scintillation detector

The Na I(Tl) scintillation detector has a number of unique advantages, including wide use, high light yield,and its low price. It is difficult to obtain the decomposition of instrument response spectrum because of limitations associated with the Na I(Tl) scintillation detector's energy resolution. This paper, based on the physical process of c photons released from decay nuclides, generating an instrument response spectrum, uses the Monte Carlo method to simulate c photons with Na I(Tl) scintillation detector interaction. The Monte Carlo response matrix is established by different single energy γ-rays with detector effects. The Gold and the improved Boosted-Gold iterative algorithms have also been used in this paper to solve the response matrix parameters through decomposing tests,such as simulating a multi-characteristic energy c-ray spectrum and simulating synthesized overlapping peaks cray spectrum. An inversion decomposition of the c instrument response spectrum for measured samples(U series, Th series and U–Th mixed sources, among others)can be achieved under the response matrix. The decomposing spectrum can be better distinguished between the similar energy characteristic peaks, which improve the error levels of activity analysis caused by the overlapping peak with significant effects.     

Estimation of Gaussian overlapping nuclear pulse parameters based on a deep learning LSTM model

A long short-term memory(LSTM) neural network has excellent learning ability applicable to time series of nuclear pulse signals. It can accurately estimate parameters associated with amplitude, time, and so on, in digitally shaped nuclear pulse signals—especially signals from overlapping pulses. By learning the mapping relationship between Gaussian overlapping pulses after digital shaping and exponential pulses before shaping, the shaping parameters of the overlapping exponential nuclear pulses can be estimated using the LSTM model. Firstly, the Gaussian overlapping nuclear pulse(ONP) parameters which need to be estimated received Gaussian digital shaping treatment, after superposition by multiple exponential nuclear pulses. Secondly, a dataset containing multiple samples was produced, each containing a sequence of sample values from Gaussian ONP, after digital shaping, and a set of shaping parameters from exponential pulses before digital shaping. Thirdly, the Training Set in the dataset was used to train the LSTM model. From these datasets, the values sampled from the Gaussian ONP were used as the input data for the LSTM model, and the pulse parameters estimated by the current LSTM model were calculated by forward propagation.Next, the loss function was used to calculate the loss value between the network-estimated pulse parameters and the actual pulse parameters. Then, a gradient-based optimization algorithm was applied, to feedback the loss value and the gradient of the loss function to the neural network, to update the weight of the LSTM model, thereby achieving the purpose of training the network. Finally, the sampled value of the Gaussian ONP for which the shaping parameters needed to be estimated was used as the input data for the LSTM model. After this, the LSTM model produced the required nuclear pulse parameter set. In summary,experimental results showed that the proposed method overcame the defect of local convergence encountered in traditional methods and could accurately extract parameters from multiple, severely overlapping Gaussian pulses,to achieve optimal estimation of nuclear pulse parameters in the global sense. These results support the conclusion that this is a good method for estimating nuclear pulse parameters.