DPP-QDC

Overview

Tired of your old QDC? Try the new digital QDC algorithm for 740 digitizer series. Digital QDC is specifically supported by x740D models mounting EP3C40 Altera FPGA. 740D digitizer series running DPP-QDC firmware become multi-channel data acquisition systems for nuclear physics or other applications requiring radiation detection. The digitizers accept signals directly from the detector and implement a digital replacement of Single Gate QDC, Discriminator and Gate Generator.

The algorithm is able to self-trigger up to 32/64 channels independently, according to the board form factor. Furthermore, the trigger filter of each channel can be programmed independently to allow for a fine tuning of the threshold. The integration gate itself can be programmed independently to get the best resolution from different detector systems.

The new digital QDC is able to self gate on the input pulse with no need of additional delay lines, nor external discriminator. It is particularly suitable for segmented detector configuration, where multiple channels need to be acquire simultaneously.

Software	Firmware	Features	740 (1)
Compass	DPP-QDC	ICH (Independent channels)	✔
		WV (Waveforms)	✔
		TS (Timestamp)	✔
		QDC (Charge to Digital Converter)	✔

⁽¹⁾ DPP-QDC runs only on x740 digitizers equipped with EP3C40 AMC FPGA

A demo software (DPP-QDC Demo Software) is available with C source files and Visual Studio project to help users to dial with the DPP-QDC firmware and develop their own control software.

Applications

• Spectroscopy with scintillation detectors, as NaI(Tl), LaBr3 (Ce), CeBr3
• Suitable for applications with detector arrays
• Homeland security
• Environmental survey
• Compton camera