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PSD Electronics

PSD Electronics

A technology transfer agreement between GE Energy and Oak

Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has brought together the very

latest in neutron detection technology. For the first time, the neutron

scattering research community is able to obtain GE Energy’s Reuter

Stokes 3He detectors integrated with high-speed electronics and

software in a modular, easy to install 8Pack neutron detector system—

an award winning design for neutron-scattering instruments

Originally developed for the Department of Energy’s Spallation

Neutron Source—a record-setting neutron science facility at ORNL—

the Position Sensitive Detector (PSD) Electronics System is a compact

neutron detection system that has the ability to determine both the

time and position of the neutron capture, enabling accurate neutron

time-of-flight measurements. Additionally, it offers large-area

detector coverage of up to 50 square meters, notably low power

requirements, and digital communication capability.

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Features

  • Preamplifier – Amplifies the detector output into a voltage pulse suitable for analog to digital conversion and processing.
  • High-Voltage Power Supply – Under the control of the software, provides the high-voltage bias to the detectors, up to +2000 volts DC.
  • ROC Board – Performs the data acquisition on the detector pulses and computes the position of the event. The ROC board also provides a time stamp for each event for time of flight calculations. The events are then buffered and transmitted on a proprietary LVDS serial bus.
  • FEM Board – Data management/communication between the ROC board and the computer. One FEM board handles up to eight detector assembly data channels (PSD Electronics Systems). The eight data inputs are buffered and routed to a single output LVDS serial bus. This process occurs for both data and configuration. The configuration commands are sent by the computer and are “fanned out” so that the request is received by all ROC boards. Responses to commands are then concentrated back for all 8Packs back to the PC.
  • DSP – Converts the LVDS hardware serial bus into an optical fiber. This fiber is used for carrying the data reliably and noise free over longer distances.
  • OCC Card – This interface card for the computer conforms to a PCIe standard. It accepts either LVDS or optical serial data. The OCC along with the software device drivers allow data input to the data collection software.

Specifications

  • Position resolution < 5mm (depending on detector and voltage)
  • 8-bit position resolution
  • Count rate > 500K cps per 8Pack with 25 mm diameter detectors; smaller diameters can achieve higher count rates
  • Greater than optimal count rates are designed for a detector gain of 100
  • 400fC to 500fC charge (higher gains will decrease the count rate capability)
  • 500 nSec timing resolution
  • System count rate >5M cps (depending on the computer used)
  • Temperature – 0°C to + 55°C
  • Pressure – 1 Atm and Vacuum*
    * Pressures between 0.03 and 600 Torr (value is approximate) may cause high-voltage breakdown. When used in an argon atmosphere carbon dioxide should be added to prevent breakdown.
  • Noise rejection – Discrimination on amplitude and pulse shape
  • Detector size – 8 mm to 25 mm diameters and lengths up to 4 m
  • Event-based data and histograms computed during post processing
  • Multiple histograms possible – energy transfer, Q value, etc.
  • Self-calibrating
  • Preamps located with the detectors for minimal noise
  • Patented low noise preamplifiers
  • High-voltage supply incorporated – 2000 V maximum standard
  • Configurable pulse sampling parameters

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Descriptions English
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