A Flexible Multichannel Digital Random Pulse Generator Based on FPGA
Affiliation(s)
Physics Department, Amir-Kabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran Radiation Application Research School, Nuclear Science & Technology Research Institute (NSRTI), Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Tehran, Iran. Department of Energy Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.
Physics Department, Amir-Kabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran Radiation Application Research School, Nuclear Science & Technology Research Institute (NSRTI), Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Tehran, Iran. Department of Energy Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.
ABSTRACT
The present paper describes a multichannel digital random pulse generator implemented in a 65-nm FPGA device. The random time interval generation is based on inverse transformation method. The output pulse generation rate, pulse width and the probability distribution function (PDF) of each channel might be individually selected by the computer through a USB cable connection. Statistical properties of the output channels can be adjusted and recorded in a fully dynamic flexible manner. The Poisson and uniform PDFs were tested and implemented for up to eight different channels in experiment, however, the implementation of any arbitrary PDF is possible by programming capability of the device as well. Detailed experimental results are expressed in the manuscript. The proposed equipment makes it possible to verify the complicated multichannel detection systems without having the radioactive experimental tests. This is a low cost instrumentation due to the FPGA-based construction.
KEYWORDS
Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA); Random Pulse Generator; Probability Distribution Function
Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA); Random Pulse Generator; Probability Distribution Function
Cite this paper
M. Arkani, H. Khalafi and N. Vosoughi, "A Flexible Multichannel Digital Random Pulse Generator Based on FPGA," World Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, Vol. 3 No. 4, 2013, pp. 109-116. doi: 10.4236/wjnst.2013.34019.
M. Arkani, H. Khalafi and N. Vosoughi, "A Flexible Multichannel Digital Random Pulse Generator Based on FPGA," World Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, Vol. 3 No. 4, 2013, pp. 109-116. doi: 10.4236/wjnst.2013.34019.
References
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[1] M. Wiernik, “Normal and Random Pulse Generators for the Correction of Dead-Time Losses in Nuclear Spectrometry,” Nuclear Instruments and Methods, Vol. 96, No. 2, 1971, pp. 325-329. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0029-554X(71)90324-7 [2] J. J. Gostely and P. Lerch, “Counting Signals from Radioactivity-Measurement Systems,” Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 290, No. 2-3, 1990, pp. 521-528. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0168-9002(90)90572-N [3] J. Gál, B. Gyorgy and J. Pálvolgyi, “A Random Tail Pulse Generator for Simulation of Nuclear Radiation Detector Signals,” Nuclear Instruments and Methods, Vol. 171, No. 2, 1980, pp. 401-406. [4] P. C. Johns and M. J. Yaffe, “Correction of Pulse-Height Spectra for Peak Pileup Effects Using Periodic and Random Pulse Generators,” Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 255, No. 3, 1987, pp. 559-581. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0168-9002(87)91227-7 [5] R. E. Abdel-Aal, “A Programmable Gaussian Random Pulse Generator for Automated Performance Measurements,” Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 276, No. 3, 1989, pp. 573-576. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0168-9002(89)90585-8 [6] P. Dajing, “A Uniform Amplitude Spectrum Generator for Test of the Maximum Effective Pulse Rate of MCAs,” Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 251, No. 3, 1986, pp. 531-535. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0168-9002(86)90648-0 [7] D. Ponikvar, “Generator of Pseudo Random Pulses,” Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms, Vol. 83, No. 1-2, 1993, pp. 295-299. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0168-583X(93)95941-W [8] R. E. Abdel-Aal, “A Versatile Programmable CAMAC Random Pulse Generator,” Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 309, No. 1-2, 1991, pp. 331-338. [9] F. N. Ferrucci, C. A. Verrastro, G. E. Ríos and D. Estryk, “FPGA-Based Random Pulse Generator for Emulation of a Neutron Detector System in a Nuclear Reactor,” IEEE VII Southern Conference on Programmable Logic (SPL), Cordoba, 2011, pp. 103-108. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/SPL.2011.5782633 [10] J. Lauch and H. U. Nachbar, “Random Pulse Generator with a Uniformly Distributed Amplitude Spectrum,” Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 267, No. 1, 1988, pp. 177-182. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0168-9002(88)90645-6 [11] W. B. Divon and B. Rozen, “A Random Pulse Generator,” Nuclear Instruments and Methods, Vol. 39, No. 1, 1966, pp. 77-87. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0029-554X(66)90046-2 [12] G. White, “The Generation of Random-Time Pulses at an Accurately Known Mean Rate and Having A Nearly Perfect Poisson Distribution,” Journal of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 41, No. 6, 1964, pp. 361-364. http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0950-7671/41/6/302 [13] G. F. Knoll, “Radiation Detection and Measurement,” John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1999. [14] C. H. Vincent, “Random Pulse Trains Their Measurement and Statistical Properties,” Peter Peregrinus Ltd., 1973. [15] IEEE 754, “Standard for Binary Floating-Point Arithmetic,” 1985. [16] ALTERA Corporation, “Nios II Software Developer’s Handbook Version 11.1,” 2011. www.altera.com [17] ALTERA Corporation, “QUARTUS II Handbook Version 11.1,” 2011. www.altera.com [18] ALTERA Corporation, “STRATIX III Device Handbook,” 2011. www.altera.com [19] ALTERA Corporation, “STRATIX III DSP Development Kit Reference Manual,” 2008. www.altera.com