Multichannel Analyzers | ORTEC Scientific Equipment

Multichannel Analyzers

Multichannel Analyzers (MCAs) are the workhorse instruments in many scientific measurements; in research, teaching, and industry; for both nuclear and non-nuclear applications. The MCA, in simplest form, analyses a stream of voltage pulses and sorts them into a histogram or “spectrum” of number of events versus pulse-height which may often relate to energy or time of arrival. The stored spectrum may then be displayed and analysed. Early commercial MCAs appeared in the late 1960’s as large and cumbersome power-hungry boxes with integral CRT displays.

The PC Revolution: In the 1980’s, ORTEC revolutionised the MCA world introducing PC based systems in which the MCA was replaced by a small hardware component, (which was named a multichannel buffer or “MCB”) and a software application which emulated the classical MCA functionality. The MAESTRO MCA Emulator and ORTEC MCB product line was born.

The Digital Revolution: By the mid 1990’s, in another ORTEC innovation, digital signal processing (DSP) technology was applied to the MCA function.

Today, ORTEC has the largest range of MCA instruments in the world in a variety of formats:

Basic Analog MCAs for routine applications:
- Plug in card MCAs
- Standalone USB Connected MCAs
- NIM Modular MCAs
DIGITAL all-in-a-PMT-Base MCAs with Bias Supply and DSP Signal processors for use with Scintillation Detectors
Integrated Digital Workstation MCAs for use with HPGe Detector systems
Portable Digital MCAs for HPGe and Scintillation Detectors

Multichannel Analyzers - Basic Analog

The wide range of choice in format and performance among the ORTEC Analog MCAs means that a solution to most instrumentation problems is easily found for:

Teaching laboratories
Research
Upgrade of existing NIM installations

Low cost per input solutions for low to moderate count rate applications

MCA Plug-in Card

TRUMP PCI-8k or 2k PCI Format Multichannel Analyzer Plug-In Card and Software

Fast (8 μs) ADC and memory on a PCI-Bus plug-in card

Computer control of all MCA functions

MAESTRO-32 MCA Software included

Two versions . . . 8k and 2k channels

USB Standalone MCA

EASY-MCA 2k or 8k Channel Multichannel Analyser

Compact stand-alone MCA

Two available versions in 2k or 8k resolution

MAESTRO-32 MCA software included

Fast, convenient USB2 connectivity

Two versions . . . 8k and 2k channels

NIM Format MCAs

926 Multichannel Buffer

8000-channel ADC (8 μs)

2 billion counts/channel

Simple to install USB Interface

Direct connection to legacy ORTEC devices

Optional interface for PC parallel port connection

MAESTRO-32 MCA software included

ASPec-927 Dual Multichannel Buffer

Two inputs in a single wide NIM

Fast (1.25-μs) 16 K channel ADC

Interfaces via USB-2.0

MAESTRO-32 MCA software included

920E EtherNIM 16 Input Multichannel Buffer

16-input, high-performance MCA in a two-wide NIM

Integral Ethernet connection for instant integration into CONNECTIONS spectroscopy networks

16k-channel data memory, 2³¹–1 counts per channel

4k-channel ADC (15-µs fixed conversion time)

Unique “dynamic routing” feature

Requires MAESTRO software which must be ordered separately

Multichannel Analyzers - Workstation

Comparison Chart

Feature	Benefit	50/502	Pro	Jr 2.0	LF
SMART-1 Support	No long HV cables; Detector status at a glance	x	x	x	x
USB 2.0	Easy connectivity in small configurations	x	x	x	x
Sample Changer I/O	Easy to interface to a range of sample changer hardware	x	x	x
Internal HV Supply for HPGe	Support for all "non-DIM" HPGe, ORTEC and non-ORTEC	x
TCPIP-Ethernet	Industry standard network support	x
Choice of Front Panel Display	"At a glance" information to user choice	x
Dual Input Version	Value	502
Digital Features/Corrections
Low Frequency Reject (LFR)	LFR mode eliminates noise (e.g., coolers)	x	x	x
Zero Dead Time (ZDT)	"Loss-free" counting for short t_1/2	x	x	x
Enhcanced Throughput	Max throughput for ultra high input rates	x	x
Resolution Enhancer	Removes "trapping" resolution degradation in large N types or from neutron damage	x	x
List Mode	Event-by-event time tagged data allows reconstruction of time-sliced spectra, use e.g., in portal monitoring	x	x


DSPEC 50 and DSPEC 502 Advanced, Fourth-Generation ORTEC DSP-Based Gamma Ray Spectrometers for Germanium Detectors Hardware Features Single MCA (DSPEC 50) and dual MCA (DSPEC 502) versions. Highly stable against variations in count rate and temperature. PHA and List Mode acquisitions. Automated set-up: Automatic Pole Zero Adjust, Baseline Restorer, and Optimize. High throughput capabilities for high count rate applications. Digital spectrum stabilizer. USB 2.0 and Ethernet capability (TCP/IP protocol). Large front panel display for at-a-glance system status information. Support for all HPGe detector types, old and new. Advanced DSP Algorithms Ensure Enhanced Spectroscopic Performance Correct treatment of highly variable count rates and short half lives: ZDT “loss free” dead-time correction withuncertainty calculation. Low Frequency Rejection (LFR) mode improves resolution by rejection of low frequency noise, e.g., electrical linenoise or vibration-induced microphonics. Resolution Enhancer improves FWHM of HPGe detectors with degradation due to charge trapping, e.g., fromradiation damage. Enhanced Throughput Mode for the ultimate in high throughput counting, up to 30% boost in system throughput.

DSPEC Pro Advanced Digital Gamma Ray Spectrometer for HPGe Detector Systems 16k channels Plug-and-Play USB 2.0 Connectivity Digitally Stable Loss Free Counting (ZDT) Low Frequency Rejector (LFR) Anti-Microphonic Filter Ballistic Deficit Correction Enhanced Throughput Mode High Precision List Mode Charge Trapping Correction Sample Changer Support MAESTRO-32 MCA software included

DSPEC jr 2.0 High Performance, Digital Signal Processing Gamma Ray Spectrometer for HPGe Detector Systems 16k channels Plug-and-Play USB 2.0 Connectivity Digitally Stable Loss Free Counting (ZDT) Ballistic Deficit Correction Sample Changer Support MAESTRO-32 MCA software included

DSPEC LF Economical, Digital Gamma-Ray Spectrometer for HPGe Detector Systems 16k channels Plug-and-Play USB 2.0 Connectivity Digitally Stable Ballistic Deficit Correction MAESTRO-32 MCA software included

The MAESTRO Story

The “Art” of “SMART” MCA Emulation began with the ORTEC MAESTRO product release in 1986. Over more than 25 years, the name “MAESTRO” has become a general term for MCA Emulators in the industry. Looking at today’s version of MAESTRO it has retained the original design goals while advancing in functionality and continuing to ride the wave of operating software development.

The design requirements for MAESTRO are unchanged. “Make the easy things easy.” Hot keys and simple menu structures do just that. “What you see is what you get.” All interactive functions operate on the active display. Even with multiple spectra on the screen, the user sees clearly which spectrum is active. “I want it now.” Peak finding and marking are single click exercises; the speed is reminiscent of a “hard-wired MCA,” because we insist it should be that way. “Make connection simple.” A simple to use connections setup wizard makes it as easy as we can to set up your system, regardless of which model MCB you are configuring or where it physically is on a networked system. All inputs appear the same regardless of their method of connection. Many thousands of copies of MAESTRO are in daily use across the world. A tribute to the design concept.

MAESTRO MCA Emulation Software
Advanced Software for MultiChannel Analyzer (MCA) Applications

• NEW! Windows 7 64-bit Compliant with legacy support for 32-bit Windows 7 and XP.
• NEW! “List Mode,” time-tagged data collection; create time-sliced spectra of any period after data acquisition.
• Advanced “smart” analysis functions: Fast Peak Search, Region of Interest (ROI), Improved Peak Fit, and Overlay Spectrum Comparison.
• Integrated control of a wide range of spectroscopy hardware with built in network support for control of up to 256 MCAs.
• Instant live data acquisition display on up to 8 inputs
• Advanced control of ORTEC DSP spectrometer features, either local or remote, via a common GUI.
• Automated “Jobs” for consistent and reliable data acquisition and reporting.
• Data Security Protection by personal password

MAESTRO is a multichannel analyzer (MCA) “emulation” software package. When used in conjunction with a personal computer, and appropriate MCB hardware, MAESTRO constitutes an advanced “smart” multichannel analysis environment for use in a wide variety of scientific applications in industry, teaching, and research, including nuclear counting laboratories.

The MAESTRO user interface provides live spectral display and control of hardware and provides a number of “smart” analysis tools. The spectrum display and manipulation has a common “look and feel” with other ORTEC spectroscopy products, such as GammaVision and Scintivision.

Full control of acquisition and all MCB hardware features is provided. The software auto-detects the attached hardware, presenting the user with only those features specifically available for that hardware. For example, members of the ORTEC DSPEC series of digital HPGe gamma spectrometer systems provide full control of the digital filter, auto-PZ and Insight® oscilloscope mode. These features are displayed by the MAESTRO software when
the DSPEC hardware is connected to the system.

As a member of the ORTEC CONNECTIONS suite of software products, MAESTRO has the capability to fully support up to 250 detector systems across a local area network; a remote detector appearing to a local operator is no different to one physically attached to the local PC workstation.

Download the MAESTRO brochure

Download the List Mode File Formats