Standalone multidetector alpha-spectrometric counting and analysis system

This document describes the usage and maintenance of a standalone radioactivity counting and analysis system called LOW LEVEL PHA. It was developed for use in multi-sample alpha spectrometric analysis. The LOW LEVEL PHA system is controlled by a MIK-11/2 microcomputer in 28K of memory and utilizes a double density, dual-floppy disk for data storage. Detectors are interfaced to the computer via CAMAC equipment (Computer Automated Measurement and Control). The system supports 32 simultaneously active and independent alpha particle detectors. It operates with collection rates of up to 300 counts per second from all active detectors, using 128 channels per spectrum and a dynamic energy range of 1.5 MeV. The system is not limited, however, to these conditions. In addition to spectral acquisition, the system provides several analysis functions which include peak identification, curve-smoothing, integration, linear and logarithmic scale graphics, and corrections for base-line shift, deadtime, and background counts. These functions can be implemented while other spectra are being collected. The LOW LEVEL PHA system represents a highly cost-effective means of acquiring alpha spectrometric data from a large number of samples simultaneously, with rapid data analysis capability. This is particularly suitable to analytical and environmental research applications where a small number of alpha-emitting radionuclides are measured at a time, e.g., isotopes of Pu or Am. 23 figures