A hybridized charge-sensitive preamplifier with improved timing resolution

The charge liberated by the detection of a nuclear event contains timing and energy information. . Several systems have been proposed to obtain both timing and energy data. . However, the signal processing usually degrades either the energy or timing data. Four preamplifier configurations used to process the charge signal and provide both timing and energy data are analyzed theoretically. The results indicate that one configuration in particular does not degrade either signal if certain risetime and noise criteria are satisfied.

A preamplifier design using the optimum configuration is presented. Certain timing section characteristics are verified using a computer simulation program. The final design was constructed using hybrid construction techniques. Experimental results are presented.

The preamplifier design satisfies the initial design goals. However, to verify the choice of a circuit configuration and the final design, the preamplifier timing performance was evaluated using a laser diode pulser together with various silicon surface barrier detectors. The timing performance of the new preamplifier is compared to that obtained from a commercial fast risetime compensated preamplifier. The new preamplifier energy resolution is equivalent to that of a conventional preamplifier and the timing resolution is typically 50% better.