A data processing system for real-time pulse processing and timing enhancement for nuclear particle detection systems

This paper presents a digital data processing system that allows real-time processing of neutron and gamma-ray pulses. The captured data are processed in real time on a field programmable gate array device. A number of pulse processing algorithms are implemented on this system including correlation-based triggering and on-the-fly pulse shape discrimination. Moreover, a timing enhancement technique using correlations is presented that allows sub-sample timing accuracy of the time-of-arrival of pulses. Finally, simulation and measurement results are presented and discussed in detail to show the system's potential.