Gamma spectacular + Red Pitaya = Nuclear Dragon fruit?

[Conor Whyte]

So, I have been on a quest to try and build an ARM based gamma spectrometer just for "fun"... it has been an involved process. (more on that later)


While investigating my project, the RedPitaya 125-14 STEM LAB brand oscilloscopes stood out as a possible platform for experimentation. I noticed that 2 MCA apps had been written for them. So, using the Gamma spectacular as my low ripple power supply and a Bias T splitter from iRad Labs, I took my first measurements today.

So far successful.. but there is much work to be done on both the applications.
Their way of loading custom apps is convoluted and requires SSH... Documentation is also sparse.

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[Sesselmann]

Conor,

Well done, nice hack.. , but ultimately our weakest link is still the detector, we need low cost high resolution gamma detectors that don't require cryogenic cooling.

Steven

[Conor Whyte]

I'm still contemplating doing a LaBr3:Ce homebuild with a bialkali PMT... It'll be interesting to see if the combination of the FPA and ADC can handle the short pulse widths without needing to be stretched out. This is a raw hack... there is no external pulse shaping with my NaI/Tl detector whatsoever... I've got the system at 35nS sampling which is around 8-10x the speed of the pulse decay for NaI/Tl. LaBr3:Ce is about ~30nS decay time.


I wonder if we could grow our own LaBr3:Ce? Wishful thinking perhaps.

[Conor Whyte]

Attached is the spectrum from the RedPitaya in the attached files. I imported this .CSV file directly into InterSpec.... note that the Cs137 peak vector is off. should be ~6.5% FWHM not 7.33%.
I am still learning how to use Interspec and had some issues with the way the vectors clamp onto the peaks.

The interactive html document is a nice touch. -- I can't upload it here.

Would there be a way of showcasing interactive spectra from interspec on the page?

[cicastol]

Nice Conor, well done!

I think using "real" high speed ADC boards like Red Pitaya is the way to go to get results like pro system.

[Sesselmann]

The interactive html document is a nice touch. -- I can't upload it here.
Would there be a way of showcasing interactive spectra from interspec on the page?

Conor,

Can you send me the HTML page, maybe I can drop it on the server.

Steven