Development of a zero-cost multichannel analyser based on digital signal processing for \(\gamma \)-ray spectroscopy using the PC sound card

Pramana volume 94, Article number: 20 (2020) Cite this article

Abstract

A zero-cost multichannel analyser (MCA) system based on the digital signal (pulse) processing (DSP) convenient for \(\gamma \)-ray spectroscopy with conventional detectors such as scintillators and high-purity germanium (HPGe) has been implemented. The in-built high-performance analog-to-digital converter (ADC) in the sound card, an integral component of the present day personal computers, was used to digitise the signals from the radiation detectors. These pulses were then shaped using the established digital signal processing recursive algorithms. The filtered data were then displayed as histograms which then could be subjected to the traditional analysis to obtain peak parameters and the associated quantities were deduced. The developed system combines the performance of the sound card hardware with the flexibility allowed by the DSP to achieve a versatile MCA.

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Acknowledgements

A Jana and S K Singh thank the Post-Graduate programme of the School of Nuclear Studies and Applications, Jadavpur University for providing the opportunity to perform this work as a part of the curriculum. The authors thank Shri Mukesh Kumar, UGC-DAE CSR, KC for his support during the implementation of this project.

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Affiliations

  1. School of Nuclear Studies and Applications, Jadavpur University, Sector III, LB-8, Bidhan Nagar, Kolkata , 700 098, India

    A Jana, S K Singh & A Gupta

  2. UGC-DAE Consortium for Scientific Research, Kolkata Centre, Sector III, LB-8, Bidhan Nagar, Kolkata , 700 098, India

    S Das, K Basu, S Samanta, R Raut & S S Ghugre

  3. UGC-DAE Consortium for Scientific Research, University Campus, Khandwa Road, Indore , 452 017, India

    A K Sinha

Authors
  1. A Jana
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  2. S K Singh
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  3. A Gupta
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  4. S Das
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  5. K Basu
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  6. S Samanta
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  7. R Raut
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  8. S S Ghugre
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  9. A K Sinha
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Correspondence to S S Ghugre.

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Jana, A., Singh, S.K., Gupta, A. et al. Development of a zero-cost multichannel analyser based on digital signal processing for \(\gamma \)-ray spectroscopy using the PC sound card. Pramana - J Phys 94, 20 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12043-019-1880-6

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Keywords

  • Sound card
  • digital signal processing
  • pulse height analysis

PACS Nos

  • 07.05.−t
  • 07.05.Hd
  • 07.05.Kf