A SOLID-STATE CHRONOTRON FOR DIGITIZING TIME DELAYS

Journal Article · Thu Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1961 · Nuclear Instr. & Methods

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0029-554X(61)90110-0· OSTI ID:4006246

Bjerke, A E; Kerns, Q A; Nunamaker, T A

This solid-state chronotron measures the relative time delay between two shaped photomultiplier pulses, and quantizes this tirne delay into seven time intervals with widths of 3 to 7 nsec. These intervals represent the difference in time of flight of two particles in a large scattering experiment, and may be varied at will by changing front panel cables. The quantized time delay is then stored in a buffer storage until readout, at which time the system is recycled. The time intervals are forrned by splitting the two shaped photomultiplier signals into parallel dicde coincidence circuits, with the tirne delay of each coincidence circuit set for the center of its respective time interval. Thus the coincidence circuit with the greatest output voltage indicates the correct time interval. To detect this voltage the stretched output of each coincidence circuit has a common ramp voltage added to it, and together these signals begin driving a bank of blocking oscillators. As soon as one blocking oscillator triggers, all others are disabled and the blocking oscillator that triggered sets up its binary coded nurnber in the buffer storage. As the ramp generator always insures that one blocking oscillator tniggers there is never a hole between time intervals because when one interval expands its neighbors will contract. Long- term stability of the time interval centers is a few tenths of a nanosecond, and the 24-hr stability of the edges of the intervals is plus or minus 0.5 nsec. With the aid of a TV monitor used in checking the system, the chronotron can be held within the above limits indefinitely by simple daily adjustments. (auth)

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, Berkeley
• NSA Number: NSA-15-026241
• OSTI ID: 4006246
• Report Number(s): UCRL-9270
• Journal Information: Nuclear Instr. & Methods, Journal Name: Nuclear Instr. & Methods Vol. Vol: 12
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BLOCKING OSCILLATOR
CABLES
CHRONOTRONS
COINCIDENCE METHODS
CONTROL
DETECTION
DIGITAL SYSTEMS
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ENGINEERING AND EQUIPMENT
MEASURED VALUES
MONITORING
OSCILLATIONS
PARTICLES
PHOTOMULTIPLIERS
PULSE GENERATORS
PULSES
SCATTERING
SEMICONDUCTORS
STABILITY
TELEVISION
VELOCITY