Note: A 102 dB dynamic-range charge-sampling readout for ionizing particle/radiation detectors based on an...

Area of Science:

• Nuclear physics and instrumentation
• Integrated circuit design
• Spectroscopy

Background:

• Traditional charge measurement techniques for radiation detectors face limitations near the preamplifier's output voltage swing.
• Achieving high-resolution spectroscopy under these conditions has been considered challenging or impossible.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an original technique for measuring charge signals from ionizing particle/radiation detectors.
• To implement this technique in an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).
• To extend the dynamic range of spectroscopic measurements.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a novel charge measurement technique in an ASIC.
• Design enabling linear charge measurements both within and beyond the output voltage swing.
• Characterization of the spectroscopic dynamic range.

Main Results:

• The developed ASIC performs linear charge measurements irrespective of the output voltage swing.
• An unprecedented spectroscopic dynamic range of 102 dB has been achieved.
• The device is suitable for high-resolution ion and X-γ ray spectroscopy.

Conclusions:

• The novel technique and ASIC implementation overcome previous limitations in charge signal measurement.
• High-resolution spectroscopy is now feasible even when operating near or beyond the preamplifier's output voltage limits.
• This approach may shift the current paradigm in radiation detector signal processing.