A High Resolution, Multi-stop, Time-to-Digital Converter for Nuclear Time-of-Flight Measurements

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2006 · Nuclear Instruments and Methods

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2005.10.008· OSTI ID:912426

Spencer, D F; Cole, J; Drigert, M; Aryaeinejad, R

A high-resolution, multi-stop, time-to-digital converter (TDC) was designed and developed to precisely measure the times-of-flight (TOF) of incident neutrons responsible for induced fission and capture reactions on actinide targets. The minimum time resolution is ±1 ns. The TDC design was implemented into a single, dual-wide CAMAC module. The CAMAC bus is used for command and control as well as an alternative data output. A high-speed ECL interface, compatible with LeCroy FERA modules, was also provided for the principle data output path. An Actel high-speed field programmable gate array (FPGA) chip was incorporated with an external oscillator and an internal multiple clock phasing system. This device implemented the majority of the high-speed register functions, the state machine for the FERA interface, and the high-speed counting circuit used for the TDC conversion. An external microcontroller was used to monitor and control system-level changes. In this work we discuss the performance of this TDC module as well as its application.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Laboratory (INL)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE - NE
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-99ID13727
• OSTI ID: 912426
• Report Number(s): INL/JOU-05-00822
• Journal Information: Nuclear Instruments and Methods, Journal Name: Nuclear Instruments and Methods Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 556; ISSN NUIMAL; ISSN 0029-554X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
ACTINIDES
COUNTING CIRCUITS
DESIGN
FISSION
MONITORS
NEUTRONS
Neutron spectroscopy
Neutron-induced fission
OSCILLATORS
PERFORMANCE
RESOLUTION
TARGETS
TIME RESOLUTION
Time-of-fight measurement
Time-to-digital converter