STABILIZATION OF A GAMMA SCINTILLATION SPECTROMETER AGAINST ZERO AND GAIN DRIFTS
In this paper is described the theory, design, and performance of a device, which corrects zero and gain drifts of any origin in a gamma-ray scintillation spectrometer consisting of NaI(Tl) crystal and multichannel pulse- height analyzer, This correction is automatic and continuous throughout operation of the spectrometer. Stability of peak channel numbers to 0.1 percent or better seems attainable over indefinite periods of time without important penalties, Reference gamma rays, having low and high energies respectively, and accompanied always by coincident beta rays which uniquely distinguish them from all other gamma rays, are emitted from a special source close to the detector, The spectrometer determines the channel number of these reference gamma rays as for other gamma rays, but does not store the counts in its memory. The stabilization device adjusts zero and gain, by means of feedback voltages applied to analyzer window threshold and photomultiplier dynode voltage, respectively, so as to hold the two reference peaks always in the preassigned channels. Thus the same reference spectrum is used for all experimental spectra (without, however, contributing appreciably to background), and the stabilization feedback loop encompasses the entire analog portion of the spectrometer. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna
- NSA Number:
- NSA-18-018216
- OSTI ID:
- 4053091
- Journal Information:
- Nucl. Instr. Methods, Journal Name: Nucl. Instr. Methods Vol. Vol: 25
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
BETA PARTICLES
CIRCUITS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
CRYSTAL COUNTERS
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ENERGY
FEEDBACK
GAMMA SOURCES
GAMMA SPECTROMETERS
INSTRUMENTATION
PARTICLE SOURCES
PERFORMANCE
PHOTOMULTIPLIERS
PLANNING
PULSE ANALYZERS
PULSES
RECORDING SYSTEMS
SCINTILLATION COUNTERS
SODIUM IODIDES
SPECTRA
STABILITY
STANDARDS
THALLIUM
THRESHOLD ENERGY