Digital pulse processing

Traditional approaches to digital pulse processing electronics are forced to trade-off energy resolution and throughput by adjusting pulse-shaping parameters.

To improve throughput, signal energy must be attenuated and this has a significant impact on SNR and consequently degrades full width half maximum (FWHM) energy resolution. Usually these techniques are insufficient to overcome the finite temporal resolution of the radiation detector and pulse pile-up is present in the output of the detector. Pulse pile-up events are traditionally identified and discarded to prevent degradation in the energy spectrum. Some of the effects of pulse pile-up in applications of radiation detection and measurement applications include:

• imposing a fundamental limit on detector throughput (and therefore source intensity);
• decreased spectral accuracy and resolution, as peaks in the energy spectrum spread;
• reduced peak-to-valley ratios due to false detection of pulses and
• significant increases in detector dead time.

SITORO® Digital Pulse Processing

Southern Innovation's SITORO® digital pulse processing technology technology uses model-based signal processing to estimate the parameters of radiation events within the pulse train output of the detector and compares the estimation to actual data processed in real time. The output from the radiation detection system is modelled as the sum of an unknown number of signals, of predetermined form, with unknown energy and unknown arrival time.

Based on this model, a multistage, nonlinear digital pulse processing algorithm is used to determine the number, energy and timing of radiation events in the detector output. This technique enables accurate characterisation of individual radiation events at low or high count rates, even in the presence of extremely severe pulse pile-up.

More information about the technical specifications of Southern Innovation's SITORO® digital pulse processing technology can be found in our technical library: [digital pulse processing white papers >>].

For more detail on how Southern Innovation's digital pulse processing technology can improve the performance of your radiation detection and measurement applications email us at: info@southerninnovation.com.