Development of a real-time signal processing unit for diamond detectors of ITER Vertical Neutron Camera

Abstract

CVD Diamond Detectors are going to be used in a number of neutron diagnostics of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) during its power operation phase [1]. One of such diagnostics is the Vertical Neutron Camera (VNC), which is being developed by the ITER Russian Domestic Agency (Institution “Project Center ITER”).In VNC Diamond detectors are used for real-time neutron flux and neutron spectrum measurements. In this paper we present current advancements in the development of a digital signal processing unit for the VNC diamond detector measurement channel. We give an overview of the signal properties, hardware requirements and firmware/software solutions used in the current version of the signal processing unit. We also present preliminary test results for this measurement system and explain the discovered problems and possible solutions.