Design of Next-Generation Analog Readout for Novel Neutron Detector

A next-generation readout system for the Neutron Intercepting System on Chip (NISoC) was designed in order to support scientific goals requiring greater precision and speed. NISoC detects the byproducts of the 10-B(n,α)7Li reaction as a change in stored charge within a memory cell. A variable reference voltage is required to evaluate the magnitude of these changes. The accuracy of charge measurements is then proportional to the accuracy of the provided voltage. The system is based on a state-of-the-art precision DAC, low-noise amplifiers, and a low-drift voltage standard. The resulting improvements in accuracy and precision are projected to reach two orders of magnitude. This enables better energy discrimination and event counts, serving as the next step towards a complete neutron imaging system.