A Simple Method for Rise-Time Discrimination of Slow Pulses from Charge-Sensitive Preamplifiers

TL;DR

This paper introduces a straightforward pulse rise-time discrimination technique for slow signals from charge-sensitive preamplifiers, enabling effective particle identification in silicon detectors with high temporal resolution.

Contribution

A novel, simple method for particle identification using pulse rise time discrimination with dual-amplifier amplitude comparison and fast ADCs.

Findings

Achieves ~1 ns rise time resolution for signals from silicon detectors.

Applicable to large-area silicon detectors and adaptable to other detector types.

Demonstrates effective particle identification for pulses with 10-500 ns rise times.

Abstract

Performance of a simple method of particle identification via pulse rise time discrimination is demonstrated for slow pulses from charge-sensitive preamplifiers with rise times ranging from 10 ns to 500 ns. The method is based on a comparison of the amplitudes of two pulses, derived from each raw preamplifier pulse with two amplifiers with largely differing shaping times, using a fast peak-sensing ADC. For the injected charges corresponding to energy deposits in silicon detectors of a few tens of MeV, a rise time resolution of the order of 1 ns can be achieved. The identification method is applicable in particle experiments involving large-area silicon detectors, but is easily adaptable to other detectors with a response corresponding to significantly different pulse rise times for different particle species.