Integrated circuit analyzer-counter-ratemeter and position device for nuclear spectroscopy studies

An inexpensive, integrated circuit single channel analyzer, counter and ratemeter with a logic unit to drive a stepping motor for positioning a device such as a grating of a monochrometer or varying an applied voltage is described. In addition to the analyzer and counter, the circuitry includes a time base for control functions, circuits for synchronous counting to subtract photomultiplier or detector "dark" noise, a serial integrator for weak signals and a rate meter for larger signals, and the stepping motor logic. The system has been applied to studies of optical spectra produced in a gas proportional scintiallation counter, where single photon counting was utilized with a 3/4 meter monochrometer.