Development of Compact Pulse Height Analyzer Modules Based on FPGA for E-Learning Type Exercises on Nuclear Reactor

Abstract

To effectively perform radiation measurements for e-Learning type exercises on a nuclear reactor, we developed new, compact and inexpensive modules for a pulse height analyzer (PHA) on the basis of a field programmable gate array (FPGA). Pulse signals from radiation detectors were digitized by a free-running ADC and their digitized data were distributed in parallel to four PHA modules in the FPGA. The digitized data were processed independently in each PHA module, in other words, each user independently set measurement conditions on his own PHA module. The new PHA modules were directly connected to the Internet via local area network and were successfully used for the neutron and gamma ray measurement for the e-Learning type exercises on the Kinki University reactor