The Canberra Multi Channel Analyzer (MCA) is located in the NIM crate in the rack 08 of the control hutch. It is composed of two single width NIM modules.

The Canberra ADC 8715 module is an fast 800ns, fixed dead time, analog-to-digital converter. The bnc input ADC IN located in the front panel accepts positive unipolar or bipolar pulses for Pulse Height Analysis (PHA) and dc level or pulses for the Sampled Voltage Analysis (SVA). These two operation modes can be selected by a switch located in the front panel. For spectroscopic applications must be set in PHA mode.

Conversion for the PHA mode can be initiated automatically using an internal peak detector operating in the input pulse. To select this operation mode the Peak Detect Switch in the front panel must be set to AUTO.

The unit has a dead time display consisting in a 20 segment bar graph. Each segment correspond to a 5% increment in dead time. For proper operation of the detector, dead time must be held, always, below 50%.

The Canberra 556 Acquisition Interface Module (AIM) is a single width NIM module with a built-in Ethernet interface. This module serves as a link between the host computer and Canberra ADC module.

The 556 AIM is linked to the ADC 8715 module by a flat ribbon cable at the rear panel going from the ADC1 connector slot to the data connector slot in the ADC 8715 (rear panel). A DB15 female connector provides the necessary connection to any Ethernet transceiver. In the front panel there are 10 led indicators showing the module status. The Ethernet address of the module, written in the front panel, is 848.

OPERATION:
  • Connect the amplifier output (sca output in the ORTEC module or signal out in the Cyberstar electronic) to the ADC INPUT in the ADC 8715 module.

  • Put the PHA/SVA switch in PHA mode.

  • Put the peak detect switch in the AUTO position.

  • Be sure that the flat ribbon cable between the AIM module and the ADC module is placed correctly and the Ethernet transceiver is in place (rear panel).

  • In SPEC (sixc or sixcv) type config to enter in the configuration menu.

  • Go to the "MCA- and CCD-Acquisition Type Device Configuration" menu.

  • In line #0 of "MCA-like" field change the default value to "yes".

  • In the "TYPE" field enter in the type sub-menu pressing the "+" key. Choose the ESRF MCA type.

  • In the "MODE" field enter in the mode sub-menu pressing the "+" key. Choose the TCP mode.

  • Change the default device to 'id3/mca/848' (note that 848 is the Ethernet address of the Canberra AIM written in the front panel).

  • Write the configuration pressing "w" and exit from the configuration menu typing "ctrlC".

  • In spec enter in the setup menu for the mca typing "mcasetup".

  • Change setup if needed (i.e. It is useful to activate the Graphical User Interface (GUI) which is off by default typing GUI... )

  • From this moment all the count operations will trigger the mca acquisition.

  • To disconnect temporally the mca type "mcaoff".

  • To remove the mca from the spec configuration type "config".

  • Go to the "MCA- and CCD-Acquisition Type Device Configuration" menu.

  • In line #0 of "MCA-like" field change the value to "no".

  • Write config file and exit from configuration menu.

For more help type in spec "help local mca" or consult the online help.