Introduction

The patented invention consists of a new solution for minimizing the total input capacitance to a Charge Sensitive Amplifier in an ionizing radiation measurement system. In addition, the invention enables improved performance in terms of energy and resolution through a reduction in amplifier noise characteristic of such measurement systems.

Technical features

An ionizing radiation measurement system (TRL 7) consists of a sensor (or detector) and a charge amplifier (or preamplifier) (Charge Sensitive Amplifier, or CSA). The sensor, when hit by radiation, produces a signal; however, the charge generated is extremely small and requires amplification. The latter, however, gives rise to noise. Compared with currently existing devices, the patented invention features a reduction in the input capacitance to the CSA. This has significant advantages including a reduction in equivalent noise charge resulting in improved energy and time resolution, an increase in preamplifier loop gain, and in its response speed. The apparatus, of which has been built a working prototype, has applications in all contexts requiring preamplifiers combined with radiation detectors.

Possible Applications

• Instrumentation for nuclear and particle physics (synchrotrons, etc.);
• Instrumentation for astrophysics;
• Medical and chemical instrumentation for X-ray and spectroscopy;
• Control of food production;
• Security and control for explosives detection;
• Analysis of materials by x-ray fluorescence (XRF).

Advantages

• Reduced equivalent noise charge resulting in improved energy and time resolution;
• Increased preamplifier loop gain;
• Increased speed of response;
• Reduced number of interconnects;
• Increased, for the same total input capacitance, preamplifier dynamics.