background image

 

 

 

Page 6 of 25  

The Constant Fraction Discriminators CFD8c, CFD7x, CFD4c, CFD1c and CFD1x (11.0.1701.1)  

3b.

 

The CFD timing discriminator Modules 

The 

RoentDek

 CFD (Constant Fraction Discriminator) units can be used for improving the timing response of electronic 

signals, e.g. as obtained from secondary electron multipliers like MCPs, Photomultipliers, Channeltrons or similar avalanche 

counters. 

 

Figure 3.1b: The CFD8 (here: CFD8b version), CFD7x similar 

Especially for advanced 

RoentDek

  detectors with Hexanode (

Hex75

/

Hex100

) the combination of the 

RoentDek

 

FAMP

 amplifiers and these CFD units has considerable advantage over the 

RoentDek

 

ATR19

 modules in terms of pulse-

pair resolution and timing precision. Using the 

RoentDek

 

CFDs

 is recommended for LC-delay-line anode (

DLD40X

 or 

RS-PMT25

/

40

) and may also improve the performance of the 

RoentDek

 

DLD

 or 

DET

 MCP detectors.  

 

It has to be noted that any operational improvement over the easy-to-use 

ATR19

 units requires a detailed understanding of 

the CFD function and a proper setting of the CFD parameters. The 

RoentDek

 

CFD

 units allow a precise adjustment of all 

these parameters to different input signal properties (e.g. rise time) and their control by two types of monitor outputs for 

achieving optimal timing results. Following the description here is mandatory for successful use. 

 

This manual describes the latest product series 

CFD8c

/

4c

/

1c

  and 

CFD1x

/

7x

.which are part of the 

RoentDek

 

FEE2

/

5

/

7x

/

8

 frontend electronics assemblies. Units with earlier version numbers (b or a) are very similar and this manual 

may serve as a reference, too. However, the older product versions have fewer features (e.g. no veto option) and can differ in 

power requirements, positions of control elements and output options. You may request an older manual version from 

RoentDek

 for those devices. 

 

All CFD units (except for the “x” channels) can be equipped with boards to operate bipolar signals as from the 

RoentDek

 

bFAMP

 modules. If you have received CFD modules containing such boards please review first Chapters 3b.1 to 3b.3 and 

then refer to Chapter 3b.7 to learn about the difference between the standard CFD and the 

RoentDek

 

bCFD

 settings. 

3b.1

 

General description 

If a source produces signals with different pulse heights, a simple comparator circuit or leading-edge discriminator unit will 

produce a digital output signal with a time jitter on the order of the input signal’s rise time, thus limiting the achievable timing 

precision. 

 

The CFD circuit was designed to deliver a “digital” output signal (e.g. NIM) with timing properties almost independent from 

the pulse height for all signals above a selectable threshold level. If the CFD is properly adjusted to the input signal’s 

properties, the jitter of this digital “timing output” signal can be reduced by at least a factor of 100 compared to leading-edge 

discrimination, as long as the pulses are fairly above noise and the normalized input signal width (the FWHM) does not vary as 

function of pulse height. The 

RoentDek

 

CFD

 units have a bandwidth of about 300 MHz, require 

negative input signals

 

on the 

In

 socket and provide 3 such timing outputs as NIM signals from sockets labelled NIM-Out on the front panel. Some 

units are available with additional ECL outputs on request or TTL output (

CFD1c

 only). The input signal pulse height should 

not exceed -2 V and there is no good temporal resolution to expect for signals smaller than -100 mV. 

If signals or levels > 

2 V or smaller -2 V are connected to the CFD input the circuit can be damaged

. For operation with signals beyond the 

safe range 

RoentDek

 can supply passive attenuators or inverter plugs (

pAtt

 and 

pInv

). 

 

RoentDek

 offers three different case versions hosting 8(7), 4 or 1 CFD channels, some with pulse height determination 

option (

CFDx

) on one of the channels.  

 

The 

CFD8c

 (see Figure 3.1b) is a standalone unit with 8 independent channels. In the version 

CFD7x

 one channel is replaced 

by a circuit allowing for a pulse height determination on one channel. These units are the recommended versions for operating 

RoentDek

 

Hexanode

 Delay-line detectors. The 

CFD8c/7x

 are standalone modules for 19” racks (one height unit) and 

Содержание CFD1c

Страница 1: ...Dek Handels GmbH Supersonic Gas Jets Detection Techniques Data Acquisition Systems Multifragment Imaging Systems The RoentDek Constant Fraction Discriminators CFD8c CFD7x CFD4c CFD1c and CFD1x 11 0 17...

Страница 2: ...Kernphysik Max von Laue Str 1 D 60438 Frankfurt am Main Germany Web Site www roentdek com WEEE DE48573152 Product names used in this publication are for identification purposes only and may be tradema...

Страница 3: ...3 CFD fraction 12 3b 3 4 Walk level 13 3b 3 5 Output signal width 14 3B 4 THE VETO OPTION 14 3b 4 1 Accessing the jumpers in CFD1c CFD1x 16 3b 4 2 Accessing the jumpers in CFD8c and CFD7x 16 3b 4 3 A...

Страница 4: ...Page 4 of 25 The Constant Fraction Discriminators CFD8c CFD7x CFD4c CFD1c and CFD1x 11 0 1701 1...

Страница 5: ...Constant Fraction DiscriminatorsCFD8b CFD4b and CFD1b 11 0 1701 1 Page 5 of 25...

Страница 6: ...odules containing such boards please review first Chapters 3b 1 to 3b 3 and then refer to Chapter 3b 7 to learn about the difference between the standard CFD and the RoentDek bCFD settings 3b 1 Genera...

Страница 7: ...weight 0 8 kg with an external 12 V DC mains adapter for use with 100 250 V AC sockets The power consumption is max 0 5 A at 12 V DC 6 W or max 0 7 A at 12 V DC 10 W for the CFD1x The CFD4c has the s...

Страница 8: ...fraction is determined by the choice of fix resistors or a potentiometer as in case of the RoentDek CFDs While one of the signals is inverted later on the other experiences a certain delay CFD delay...

Страница 9: ...he signals have to be verified on an oscilloscope The CFD Fraction can be adjusted by another potentiometer labelled Fr on the front panel CFD4b CFD1b side panel CFD8b top lid see Figure 3 6b Figure 3...

Страница 10: ...s damped by a factor of 10 For achieving the ideal settings it is first of all important to note that the CFD operates best in all respects and yields the optimal temporal resolution if the input sign...

Страница 11: ...delay D of 5 5 ns Note that the RoentDek CFDs will not operate without connecting an external delay cable bridge If the pulse rise time RT is defined as the time from reaching 10 to 90 of the signal m...

Страница 12: ...livers the CFD with a standard CFD fraction setting of about 0 35 The CFD fraction can be varied between 0 15 and 1 via a potentiometer In order to observe and quantify the CFD fraction ratio on the o...

Страница 13: ...during the bipolar signal s crossover while fluctuating almost equally between high and low states before and long after the signal due to electronic noise on the line not visible in the pictures If...

Страница 14: ...idth bridges of the internal circuit see Figure 3 5b With the jumper in place the maximum width is increased to 2000 ns Please contact RoentDek if you are in need of the optional jumpers Obviously a s...

Страница 15: ...15b Trace of the input signal to the Veto socket upper trace and signal traces of CFD timing signals lower trace integrated over many events for Veto left and Gating mode right In order to work reliab...

Страница 16: ...he front panel 3b 4 2 Accessing the jumpers in CFD8c and CFD7x I Disconnect the mains power supply II On the rear panel remove all five screws red circles Please note that different types and sizes of...

Страница 17: ...ear front panel and fix them with all screws and hex bolts 3b 4 3 Accessing the jumpers in CFD4c I Remove all six screws from the right side panel marked in red see Figure 3 20b Figure 3 20b Side pane...

Страница 18: ...oscope see Figure 3 21b If a CFD is used for operating a RoentDek delay line detector or similar device these pre trigger events result in a distinct structure in the time sum spectrum see Figure 3 21...

Страница 19: ...neighbours 3b 6 The CFDx pulse height determination option The CFDx function is an add on circuit that allows measuring the signal s pulse height The pulse height information is coded as a time delay...

Страница 20: ...er trace ramp monitor output the Ramp switch is turned off here Signals are triggered on the CFD timing output signal trace not shown Left and right pictures were obtained with two different cable len...

Страница 21: ...Dx signal This is indicated in Figure 3 26b The ramp slope is about 1 V per 12 ns giving an almost linear correspondence between pulse height and time delay with a typically 10 to 20 ns offset for pul...

Страница 22: ...iming signal with a RoentDek TDC8HP The same spectrum could be recorded by plotting the time difference between trailing and leading transitions of the CFDx output It is advisable to mark the pulse he...

Страница 23: ...se heights will not be registered Please contact RoentDek for advice unless you have received a properly matched system with bFAMP for a certain delay line read out anode Timing signals off the MCP co...

Страница 24: ...3 12B SIGNAL TRACES AS IN FIGURE 3 8B LEFT WITH THE WALK LEVEL SET TO THE BASELINE OF THE INPUT SIGNALS LEFT PICTURE AND SLIGHTLY TOWARDS THE POSITIVE SIDE WHERE THE NOISE TRIGGERS BEGIN TO VANISH RIG...

Страница 25: ...DTH POTENTIOMETER SETTING LOWER TRACE RAMP MONITOR ALL TRACES TRIGGERED ON THE STOP SIGNAL THE STOP SIGNAL SHOULD BE USED IF THERE IS A SPARE TDC CHANNEL AVAILABLE 21 FIGURE 3 27B AS FIGURE 3 25B RIGH...

Отзывы: