Novel 8-bit Ultrasensitive Signal Digitizer for Reduced-Cost Nuclear Physics Instrumentation

50634-98-I Novel 8-bit Ultrasensitive Signal Digitizer for Reduced-Cost Nuclear Physics Instrumentation--Hypres, Inc., 175 Clearbrook Road, Elmsford, NY 10523-1109; (914) 592-1190 Dr. Michael S. Pambianchi, Principal Investigator Dr. Elie K. Track, Business Official DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-98ER82594 Amount: $74,947 Many detectors used in nuclear physics produce extremely low-level output signals. Making full use of the information contained in such signals requires digitizing them with as much resolution and speed as possible. Amplifiers which boost the signal level prior to analog-to-digital conversion introduce distortion which reduces the useful information contained in those low-level detector signals. A high sensitivity analog-to-digital converter requiring no preamplifier is needed. This project will develop an ultrasensitive superconducting analog-to-digital converter requiring no preamplifier. This device will be capable of digitizing signals of order ~1 microamp with 8 bits of resolution at 100 MHz sample rate, using a novel high-sensitivity, high linearity front end. A multichannel system will be developed integrating many digitizers on a single chip ultimately. Phase I will develop a complete A/D converter consisting of a high-linearity, high-sensitivity current-controlled oscillator front end and a 12-bit binary counter with parallel readout for pulse accumulation. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: High-sensitivity, high-linearity A/D converters can find broad application in digital readouts for a range of sensor technologies, including focal plane arrays, laser radars, spectroscopic applications, and biomedical imaging systems. _