Topaz-X | JCS Nuclear Solutions

Topaz-X is a compact, stand-alone digital Multi- Channel Analyzer (MCA), which is able to perform Pulse Height Analysis (PHA) of the signal pro- duced by high resolution, Peltier-cooled semicon- ductor detectors, such as Silicon Drift Detectors (SDD) and Si-PIN diodes. Such detectors are commonly used in energy dispersive X-ray fluo- rescence (ED XRF) analysis or any X-ray spec- trometry method.

The device data communication and power is via a standard USB port (mini USB-B) to a typical PC or notebook.

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 neigh- borhood of the PC that are available for connection. Alternatively the MCA can be provid- ed with our full-featured and advance X-ray spectrometry software package – bAxil. Using bAxil the user can perform data acquisition and within the same software framework the

Features at a glance

Fully digital, ultra-compact Multi-Channel Analyzer (MCA), suitable for high energy resolution, Peltier-cooled detectors
Advanced spectroscopy acquisition modes: PHA, MCS, LIST and TLIST
TLIST with 40nsec resolution
Incorporated into fully-featured powerful X-ray spectrometry software bAxil
Available as a PCB only for OEMs
Fast flash 14-bit ADC (50 Hz) with a 100 MHz DSP and a 32- bit CPU at 200 MHz
Hi-speed data transfer rate (480 Mbit/sec)
Up to 16K channels for PHA and MCS acquisition
Analogue shaping parameters automatically adjusted to match digital shaping
Advanced electronic noise reduction algorithms
Compact MCA 68 mm x 46 mm (PCB) and 86x70x18 mm in the aluminium case, weight < 150 grams (with case)
Powered over USB or external low-noise power AC/DC module
Miniature design combining low power consumption with low noise
Available programming libraries for Windows and Linux Operating System (upon request)

Description

The Topaz-X is an advanced, fully digital, compact Multi-Channel Analyzer. This device is used to process the electronic pulses produced by a high-resolution, electrically cooled silicon detector such as Silicon-drift detector (SDD) or Silicon PIN diode (Si-PIN). 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 up to 40 nano-seconds.

The Topaz-X 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 MHz, a 100 MHz DSP processor and a 200 MHz CPU. The MCA FPGA design implements powerful digital processing techniques and algorithms to better separate the useful signal from noise and to maximize performance under high count rate conditions. The device has a spectral memory size of up to 16 384 (16K) channels available for any acquisition mode (PHA, MCS, LIST or TLIST modes).

The Topaz-X transfers acquired data via an ultra-fast USB connection to the PC with data transfer rates of 480 Mbit/sec. The device can be powered via the USB connection or using an external low-noise AC/DC power supply, which is included in the delivered package.

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 X-ray spectrometry analysis software, bAxil. An attractive package price can be obtained when ordering the MCA together with bAxil software.

The MCA is cased into a rugged aluminium box of pocket sizes with one input connector (detector preamp signal), two input/output programmable connections and an interface connector (USB mini type B) to the PC. The device can be requested with mini-lemo or standard BNC connectors.

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.

Specification

Item	Data
Device	14-bit high-performance flash ADC . 50 Ms/s sampling rate
	100 MHz DSP processor
	200 MHz 32-bit CPUData acquisition
Data acquisition	Spectral memory sizes of up to 16,384 (16K) channels of 32-bits depth.
	Acquisition modes:
	• PHA, MCS, LIST mode and TLIST mode
	• LIST and TLIST modes with 40 nsec event time resolution
	Analog gain from x1 to x256.
	Coarse gain with amplification factors of 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 and 128. Fine gain from 1 to 2 in steps of 1/16384 (~ 0.000061)
	Adjustable and/or automatic Inhibit signal reset
Digital Settings	Analog shaper parameters are automatically adjusted to match the digital shaping settings (unique feature) !!!
	Trapezoidal pulse shaper
	Rise Time: from 0.1 to 12 μs in steps of 0.2 μs
	Flat Top: from 0.1 to 8.0 μs in steps of 0.1 μs
	Adjustable Fast discriminator threshold
	Digital Base Line Restorer (BLR)
	Pile-Up Rejector (PUR)
MCS	Spectral memory sizes of 256, 512, 1024, 2048, 4096, 8192 and 16384 channels, depth 32-bits
	Dwell time from 0.005 seconds to "count-forever”
Digital Settings	Trapezoidal pulse shaper
	Rise Time: from 0.1 to 12 μs in steps of 0.2 μs
	Flat Top: from 0.1 to 8.0 μs in steps of 0.1 μs
Power Supply	Device power via USB connection or external low-noise AC/DC power adaptor (supplied).
Data communication	Device power via USB connection or external low-noise AC/DC power adaptor (supplied).
	Standardly a 3-meter long USB cable is supplied.
Sizes	MCA box: length 86 mm, width 70 mm, height 18 mm
Connectors	USB type mini B (to computer)
	Input signal: Pre-Amplifier detector signal.
	Two general purposes programmable input/output ports
	The device can be supplied either with Lemo or standard BNC connectors (to be speci- fied at the order)
Indicators	• Red LED for detector high voltage status
	• Yellow LED for incoming count rate (ICR)
	• Green color LED for power and communication status
Other	The device is supplied with a basic software to control operation, data acquisition and visualization.
	(upon request) Necessary programming libraries for Microsoft Windows® and Linux
Optional	The MCA can be supplied with full-featured Gamma-ray spectrometry software—bGAMMA, at package cost.
Certifications	The device is CE compliant

Standard Software

Our standard acquisition and spectrometry software is bundled with and can be used to connect to any of our Multi-Channel Analysers for managing operations such as setup, control, data acquisition and visualisation.

A digital oscilloscope function allows the user to monitor the input and filtered pulses to aid in fine-tuning the MCA parameters. The program also includes a few spectrometry-related functions for processing the spectral data such as calibration, ROI analysis and peak search.

Main features:

Control of the operation of the MCA device
Setup of acquisition parameters
Data acquisition in Pulse Height Analysis (PHA) and Multi-Channel Scaling (MCS) modes
Visualisation of the energy spectrum
Peak search and energy calibration
ROI-based spectrum analysis
Saving of acquired spectra into files in ASCII format
Generation of reports
Creation and use of nuclide libraries
Possibility of calling an external application for further spectrum processing at the click of a button

Extended Software

bGamma

Modern Gamma Spectroscopy Software

The new bGamma spectroscopy Software is an all-inclusive, modern software package for gamma-ray spectrum analysis, radionuclide identification and quantification. The software can analyse any recorded gamma-ray spectrum independently of the detector type, geometry or sample.

bGamma provides all the necessary tools and functionality for performing a detailed analysis of complex gamma-ray spectra and the corresponding radionuclide identification for the given sample.

“The new bGamma software is a comprehensive software package designed from the outset to bring gamma spectrum analysis up to modern requirements…”

Features Include:

Multi-document application
Controls data acquisition via detector-MCA setups
Implements several automatic peak search methods
Provides different methods for peaks’ continuum correction
Region of interest (ROI) calculations and automatic and/or manual marking
Energy and shape calibrations using comprehensive data input with visual interaction
Easy to perform and yet powerful efficiency calibration
Includes several powerful spectrum analysis fitting methods, including Bayesian fitting. This wide choice of analysis methods warranties the success and/or suitability of spectrum analysis for any kind of gamma-ray spectrum and analysis needs
Fitting and mathematical model parameters are at hand for their quick changes and optimisation
Advanced and modern GUI for superb spectrum and analysis results visualization

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