A data acquisition system for gas proportional detectors with delay line readout based on space–time–space conversion

A NIM module for delay line readout of linear gas proportional X-ray or neutron detectors based on time to space conversion is presented. Each of the 16 ASICs in the module contains a delay line with 64 elements each connected to a 24 bit-counter. Readout of the coincidence of signals travelling in opposite directions on the delay line and incrementation of the counters is triggered by the prompt anode signal so that simultaneous events are correctly processed. Transfer of the contents of the 1024 individual counters to a histogramming device at the end of a time frame can be as short as 60 μs. With continuous delay lines the total conversion time equals the transit time of the delay line in the detector, whereas with segmented delay lines the total conversion time is around 20 ns.