Topaz-HR is a compact, stand-alone digital Multi-Channel Analyzer (MCA), which is able to perform Pulse Height Analysis (PHA) of the signal produced by high resolution gamma-ray semiconductor detectors, such as Hyper Pure Germanium Detectors (HPGe). Such detectors are commonly used in high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry, a technique vastly implemented in any advanced radio -analytical laboratory or as part of comprehensive nuclear analytical methods.

The MCA can be also be used with detectors with lesser energy resolution, such as scintillator detectors, like NaI(Tl), LaBr₃, CeBr₃, etc. The MCA is provided with a basic software package that allows to control the device, and to acquire and visualize the energy spectrum. The software incorporates an advanced and easy-to-use “discovery” function that can be used to detect automatically all the BrightSpec MCAs in the neighborhood of the PC that are available for connection. Alternatively the MCA can be provided with our full-featured and advance Gamma-ray spectrometry software package – bGamma. Using bGamma the user can perform data acquisition and within the same software framework the spectrum analysis, including all necessary calibrations, and radioactivity quantization per radionuclide in the sample.

A set of programming libraries is also offered, which makes the incorporation of the Topaz-HR into existing radiation systems or setups very easy. The programming libraries are available for both MS Windows and Linux operating systems.

The Topaz-HR is an advanced, fully digital, compact Multi-Channel Analyzer. This device is used to process the electronic pulses typically produced by a high-resolution, semiconductor detectors such as hyper-pure germanium detectors (HPGe). However, the MCA can be also connected to other type of detectors such as scintillators (e.g. NaI(Tl), CeBr3 or LaBr3, etc.) making it a valuable and multi-purposes device and a “must have” in your lab.

The MCA implements several advanced modes of data acquisition, such as: Pulse Height Analysis (PHA), Multi-channel scaling (MCS), LIST and Time-LIST mode (TLIST). For the latter, each recorded pulse will be stored not only with the pulse height information (energy), but with the arrival time stamp as well. In TLIST mode the event time resolution is better than 30 nano-seconds. The Topaz-HR design incorporates the latest advances in digital electronics. The core of the MCA is its 14-bit high-quality fast flash ADC running at 50 Ms/s, a 100 MHz DSP processor and a 200 MHz CPU. The device has a spectral memory size of up to 16 384 (16K) channels of 32-bit depth available for any acquisition mode.

The device includes a low-noise and yet power full high voltage module which is able to provide high voltages bias from 0 to 6000 Volts, as well as a power connection to most commonly used Pre-amplifiers (± 24 or ±12 Volts), via a DB9 connector.

The Topaz-HR transfers acquired data via an ultra-fast USB connection to the PC with data transfer rates of 480 Mbit/sec. The MCA is powered using an external low-noise AC/DC power supply, which is included in the delivered package. The MCA is cased into a rugged aluminum box with all necessary connectors for the detector and one USB (mini type B) for the PC. In the front panel several LED signalizes the status of the data acquisition and the device.

The device can be controlled via our basic acquisition software (bMCA software), which can be freely downloaded from our WEB site. Alternatively, the MCA control is incorporated into our fully-featured Gamma-ray spectrometry analysis software— bGamma. An attractive package price can be obtained when ordering the MCA together with bGamma software.

This device is also available as a separate PCB only, which makes it attractive to the OEM market. The programming libraries for Windows and Linux OS are available as well.