A microprocessor based multiplier scaler/timer system for simultaneous counting application

Simultaneous counting of pulses in two or more channels is a frequent requirement in nuclear spectrometry and radiation detection and counting applications. Low background beta counting set-up with coincidence and anticoincidence provision and whole body counting systems are typical examples of these applications. The pulses to be counted may emanate from a single detector, in which case, generally, different channels would represent different pulse height; Multiple Channel Analyser is one such example. Alternatively pulses may come from different detectors and may be of same or different heights in which case different channels would correspond to different detectors. The whole body counting system typifies such class of applications. It is also generally necessary to synchronise starting and stopping of counting process for different channels. Further, to reduce noise and to eliminate interference from neighbouring channel, it is often necessary to provide each channel with a separate pulse height discriminator. A microprocessor based multiple scaler/timer which incorporates all the above desired features has been developed. Incorporation of microprocessor has led to increase in speed and reduction in size. (author)