Nuclear Electronics
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with knowledge and understanding of the electronic noise and its propagation through time-invariant/time-variant linear circuits, as well as with the ability to optimize the signal-to-noise ratio in presence of non-white noises. The optimization of a high-resolution nuclear-radiation spectrometer will be studied in detail as a case study.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students will be able to
1. Discuss the physical mechanisms related to electronic-noise generation
2. Describe the spectral power density of noise and calculate the signal-to-noise ratio
3. Propagate the electronic noise through linear circuits and calculate the input-referred noise density
4. Discuss the weight-function and optimal filtering-concepts
5. Describe in detail the functional blocks of an electronic chain for ionizing-radiation spectroscopy
6. Discuss the working principle and the properties of a charge-sensitive preamplifier
7. Derive the current signals seen at the electrodes of radiation detectors
8. Discuss the techniques for the optimization of a nuclear spectrometer at physical and processing level
1. Discuss the physical mechanisms related to electronic-noise generation
2. Describe the spectral power density of noise and calculate the signal-to-noise ratio
3. Propagate the electronic noise through linear circuits and calculate the input-referred noise density
4. Discuss the weight-function and optimal filtering-concepts
5. Describe in detail the functional blocks of an electronic chain for ionizing-radiation spectroscopy
6. Discuss the working principle and the properties of a charge-sensitive preamplifier
7. Derive the current signals seen at the electrodes of radiation detectors
8. Discuss the techniques for the optimization of a nuclear spectrometer at physical and processing level
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The course is focused on the the front-end electronics for semiconductor detectors, with a particular emphasis on the electronic noise, its physical origin, and the principal techniques to minimize its impact. The considered topics are:
- Fundamentals on Electronic Signal and Noise.
Description of signal and noise in the time and frequency domains. Principal sources of noise: thermal noises, shot noise, 1/f and Lorentzian noise. Autocorrelation function and power spectral density of noise. Signal-to-noise ratio, measurement resolution.
- Semiconductor Detectors of Ionizing Particles and Radiations (X and gamma).
Working principles. Fano factor. Important electrical parameters including datector capacitance and leakage current. Fringe effects. Peak-to-valley ratio.
- Signal Preamplification and Amplification.
Essentials of negative-feedback virtual-earth amplifiers. Charge amplifier: circuit structure, transfer function, transition time, decay time, dead time. Equivalent Noise Charge.
- Optimization of the Spectral Measurements.
Optimum matching of the detector-preamplifier system. Matched filter. Analog shaper amplifiers. Weight function, shaping time, baseline restorer.
- Analog-to-Digital Conversion of the Signal and Digital filtering.
Conversion techniques. Integral and differential nonlinearities. Correction techniques. Digital shaper amplifiers and digital baseline restorers.
- Fundamentals on Electronic Signal and Noise.
Description of signal and noise in the time and frequency domains. Principal sources of noise: thermal noises, shot noise, 1/f and Lorentzian noise. Autocorrelation function and power spectral density of noise. Signal-to-noise ratio, measurement resolution.
- Semiconductor Detectors of Ionizing Particles and Radiations (X and gamma).
Working principles. Fano factor. Important electrical parameters including datector capacitance and leakage current. Fringe effects. Peak-to-valley ratio.
- Signal Preamplification and Amplification.
Essentials of negative-feedback virtual-earth amplifiers. Charge amplifier: circuit structure, transfer function, transition time, decay time, dead time. Equivalent Noise Charge.
- Optimization of the Spectral Measurements.
Optimum matching of the detector-preamplifier system. Matched filter. Analog shaper amplifiers. Weight function, shaping time, baseline restorer.
- Analog-to-Digital Conversion of the Signal and Digital filtering.
Conversion techniques. Integral and differential nonlinearities. Correction techniques. Digital shaper amplifiers and digital baseline restorers.
Prerequisites for admission
1. Fundamentals of electrostatics
2. Theory of linear networks
3. Use of Fourier and Laplace transforms
4. Concept of negative feedback
5. Foundations of statistics
6. Fundamentals of semiconductor physics
2. Theory of linear networks
3. Use of Fourier and Laplace transforms
4. Concept of negative feedback
5. Foundations of statistics
6. Fundamentals of semiconductor physics
Teaching methods
A top-down teaching method is adopted. The teacher illustrates the topics starting from an intuitive overview, and then deepens specific points with all mathematical, physical and engineering details. A large part of the teaching is dedicated to the case study of the electronic chain for ionizing radiation spectroscopy.
Teaching Resources
E. Gatti, P.F. Manfredi, "Processing the signals from solid-state detectors in elementary-particle physics"
A cura di A. Pullia, "Dispense di strumentazione elettronica", CD-ROM
A cura di A. Pullia, "Dispense di strumentazione elettronica", CD-ROM
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an interview focused on specific aspects of the program as chosen by the teacher. Both the skills acquired (50%) and the quality of the exposure (50%) are considered for determining the final marks.
FIS/04 - NUCLEAR AND SUBNUCLEAR PHYSICS - University credits: 6
Lessons: 42 hours
Professor:
Pullia Alberto
Professor(s)
Reception:
By appointment