A self-triggered intensified CCD pulse height analyzer for discriminative α high resolution imaging

We have developed a self-triggered intensified CCD (STIC) for real time high spatial resolution contact imaging of alpha and beta labeled samples. This paper shows how to take advantage of the triggering signal generated by the image intensifier to perform simultaneously real time imaging and α particle identification based on pulse height analysis. A 10.5% (FWHM) intrinsic energy resolution was achieved for 4.8 MeV alpha particle. The characterization of the triggering signal viewed as a spectrometric indicator is reported. In that context, the influence of operating parameters on linearity and energy resolution performances are discussed. In particular, a focus on the correlation between the position of the light spot and the pulse height of the triggering signal, evidenced with a MCP quad-wires image intensifier prototype is proposed