460 Delay Line Amplifier

• Delay-line shaping for energy and time spectroscopy with scintillation detectors
• Ideal for n-g discrimination by pulse-shape analysis
• Excellent high-counting rate performance
• Optimum timing capabilities
• Selectable integration time constants

The Model 460 Delay Line Shaping Amplifier is intended for energy and time spectroscopy with scintillation detectors. It can also be used with proportional counters, semiconductor detectors and position-sensitive proportional counters. Its delay-line shaped output signal is particularly well suited for high-counting rate and timing applications. This particular type of output signal offers a more rapid baseline recovery than is possible with semi-Gaussian shaping amplifiers. The Model 460 provides excellent timing capabilities, either for leading-edge or zero-crossing timing techniques, particularly when it is used with an ORTEC Model 552 Pulse-Shape Analyzer/Timing Single-Channel Analyzer. Double-delay-line shaping exhibits less time jitter when compared with either the classical RC-shaping network or active-filter networks, primarily due to the fast rise time and fall time of the double-delay-line shaped output pulse.

The Model 460 also offers the unique feature of a selectable integration time constant to optimize the signal-to-noise ratio in any particular experimental configuration. The optimum integration time constant depends on such factors as the noise in the system and the counting rate in the particular experiment. The Model 460 is well suited for applications where overload pulses are involved, as it will recover to within 2% of its rated maximum output in <5 non-overloaded pulse widths from a X500 overload.

The Model 460 exhibits <1 ns of crossover walk for a 20:1 dynamic range of its output signal. Therefore it is useful in precise fast coincidence timing applications that employ the crossover timing or constant-fraction timing techniques. The Model 460 offers both prompt and delayed outputs and therefore can store the unipolar outputs temporarily if desired for energy analysis after the timing and coincidence evaluation has taken place. The baseline-restorer unipolar output can be either delayed or prompt as selected by a switch on the rear panel.

The Model 460 is the amplifier recommended for use with pulse-shape analysis applications such as neutron-gamma separation when using the ORTEC Model 552 Pulse Shape Analyzer/Timing SCA.

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