Hardware-optimized precision for in-situ gamma instrumentation using advanced digital pulse processing algorithms

Accurate and efficient in-situ gamma radiation measurement is vital for ensuring safety in nuclear, industrial, and medical applications. This study addresses the challenges of real-time gamma radiation detection and measurement in dynamic environments by implementing advanced digital pulse processing algorithms. The proposed approach integrates a multi-channel time spectroscopy (MCT) system, gamma dosimeter, and gamma counter, designed for use with NaI(Tl) scintillator detectors and radiation sources such as 137 Cs and 60 Co. The manuscript explicitly details a hybrid acquisition chain where analogue gamma signals are initially conditioned (preamplification and shaping) to ensure optimal signal integrity before digitization. A critical component of the system is the analogue-to-digital converter (ADC) operating at 16 MSamples/s, which digitizes the conditioned analogue signals for subsequent processing. All algorithms such as TAC, TOF, and DTAC are implemented on the digitized data, leveraging digital signal processing (DSP) techniques to enhance resolution, reduce noise, and mitigate analogue-era limitations. Thus, while analogue stages are necessary for signal acquisition and conditioning, the core innovation lies in the fully digital algorithms applied post-digitization, ensuring coherence with the abstract’s emphasis on advanced digital methodologies. Three innovative algorithms are introduced to enhance system performance: Time-to-Amplitude Converter (TAC), Time-of-Flight (TOF), and Distance-to-Amplitude Converter (DTAC). The TAC algorithm improves energy resolution by converting time intervals between radiation events into voltage signals, achieving a time resolution of 0.0012457 s for 137 Cs. The TOF algorithm accurately estimates photon velocity, attaining a precision of 4.3556 cm/s for 137 Cs, and reduces computational complexity for energy estimation. The DTAC algorithm enhances spatial resolution, achieving a distance resolution of 0.044657 cm for 137 Cs, making it suitable for applications with varying source-to-detector distances. Additionally, advanced techniques are proposed for dose, dose rate, and count rate estimation using relative, absolute, and coincidence methods. The system outputs a digital counter value of 14,786 counts/s, demonstrating robust performance under high radiation flux. The proposed approach surpasses conventional methods, such as multichannel analyzers (MCA), by mitigating limitations like pileup effects and noise susceptibility. Comparative validation with experimental literature confirms that the algorithms significantly enhance processing speed, accuracy, and noise resilience. The findings establish the proposed MCT system as a reliable and precise solution for real-time, in-situ gamma radiation measurement, offering improved performance in diverse nuclear and industrial environments.