A121 Charge Sensitive Preamplifier & Discriminator
Amptek is proud to have supplied A121s for the JUNO mission to Jupiter. For more information about The Jovian Auroral Distributions Experiment (JADE) on the Juno Mission to Jupiter, including photographs of the Amptek A121 in place, click here.
Model A121 is a hybrid charge sensitive preamplifier-discriminator designed for use in fast pulse counting mode with microchannel plates, channels electron multipliers, low gain photomultiplier tubes, proportional counters and solid state detectors.
Product Details
- Fixed Dead Time
- Sensitivity: 5 x 104 electrons (Voltage Adjustable)
- Frequency: 12 MHz periodic
- Analog monitor output
- Output Pulse: 35 ns minimum (Adjustable)
- Vs = +5 to +7 VDC MAX. (25 mW)
- Input Noise: 15 x 10-16 coulombs RMS; 9,650 e– RMS; 19% of threshold
- Noise Slope: 1.8 x 10-17 coulombs RMS/pF
Input Characteristics
| Threshold | Model A121 has a nominal threshold referred to the input of 8 x 10-15 coulomb. This is equivalent to 5 x 104 electrons. |
| Threshold Stability vs. Temperature | 0.5% per °C |
| Threshold Stability vs. Power Supply Variations (Vs) | -0.1% per mV |
| Unit-to-unit Threshold variation | ±8% |
| Noise (typical) | 15 x 10-16 coulombs RMS; 9,650 e– RMS; 19% of threshold |
| Noise Slope (typical) | 1.8 x 10-17 coulombs RMS/pF |
Output Characteristics at Threshold
Input Test: 4 mV through 2 pF
Q = CV = 0.008 pC = 5 x 104 electrons
| Analog Output (Pin 5) Sensitivity | 120 mV (15 V/pC) |
| Analog Output Risetime | 10 ns |
| Output (Pin 9) | 5 V; 35 ns minimum |
General
| Dead Time | Fixed Dead Time. Minimum Dead Time 80 ns. See “Figure A. A121 typical dead time as a function of resistance” under the Performance tab. From Pin 8 to +5 Volts DC. |
| Count rate | 12 x 106 CPS periodic |
| Operating voltage | +5 to +7 VDC MAX. (25 mW) |
| Operating current (typical) | 5 mA quiescent, plus 1.5 mA/MHz |
| Temperature | -55 to +85 ºC operational |
| Screening | Amptek High Reliability |
| Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) | 1.2/106 hrs @ +25 °C |
| Warranty | One year |
| Weight | 3.5 g |
| Package | 9 Pin SIP |
| Accessories | PC121 test board |
A121 RESPONSE
STEP INPUT THROUGH 2 pF TEST CAPACITOR
A121 Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | Input |
| Pin 2 | Ground and Case |
| Pin 3 | Threshold Adjust (5k ohms < RT: open for maximum sensitivity). See “Figure B. A121 input threshold vs. control voltage on Pin 3” under the Performance tab. |
| Pin 4 | Vs (+5 to +7 VDC MAX.) |
| Pin 5 | Analog Monitor |
| Pin 6 | Pulse Width Adjustment (RH RH = 0 For Minimum Pulse Width of 35 ns. See “Figure C. A121 typical output pulse width vs. resistance to ground from Pin 6” under the Performance tab. |
| Pin 7 | Ground and Case |
| Pin 8 | Deadtime Adjustment (RL RL = 0 For Minimum Dead Time of 80 ns. See “Figure A. A121 typical dead time as a function of resistance. From Pin 8 to +5 Volts DC” under the Performance tab. |
| Pin 9 | Output |
Typical test circuit
Trise: < 20 ns (negative-going edge) Amplitude: 2 – 50 mV.
Charge transfer to the input is according to Q = Ct·V, where Q = total charge, Ct = value of test capacitor, and V = amplitude of voltage step. DO NOT connect the test pulser to the input directly or through a large capacitor (> 100 pF) as this can produce a large current in the input transistor and cause irreversible damage.
NOTES ON A121
- Pin 1, INPUT Pin 1 has a DC level of 1.2 V. This DC level should not be changed by external circuitry. Pin 1 should be AC coupled to the detector. The High Voltage coupling capacitor should have adequate voltage rating in order to prevent breakdown which could harm the A121. For detectors with anode at ground potential: An anode at ground potential needs a DC path to ground to maintain a fixed potential. This can be provided by DC coupling to the input of the A121, which will hold the anode at about 1.2 V. Alternatively, you can AC couple, but use a higher value resistor (1 MEG) to ground at the anode side of the capacitor.
- Protection to the A121 can be provided as follows:
- Pin 3, THRESHOLD ADJUST Threshold to the A121 can be changed remotely by changing the voltage level on Pin 3. A resistor from Pin 3 to Vs can be added in order to raise the threshold on the A121. The impedance at Pin 3 is about 10k ohms. (See “Figure B. A121 input threshold vs. control voltage on Pin 3” under the Performance tab.)
- Pin 5, ANALOG MONITOR Pin 5 provides a positive analog pulse output from the preamplifier section just prior to the discriminator with a rise time of about 10 ns. At maximum sensitivity (Pin 3 = 0 Volts) the amplitude of this pulse is proportional to the input charge, A = 15 V/pC. At threshold this will correspond to a 120 mV pulse. If a voltage is present on Pin 3, the size of the analog pulse will be divided by the same threshold attenuation factor the voltage produced. Example: If 1.3 V is present on Pin 3 (6dB attenuation is a factor of 2), the size of the analog pulse will be 60 mV. This output must be capacitively coupled to external circuitry and can be used to monitor detector gain variations by performing pulse height analysis.
- Pin 9, OUTPUT The final output stage of the A121 is produced from a 74AC00 gate with a 200 ohm series resistor.
PC121 Test Board for the A121
PC121 Operating Notes
- The PC121 accommodates two of the A121s, side by side.
- The input (Pin 1) of the A121 is held at a DC level of 1.2 V. Capacitors C1 and C2 isolate the input of the A121 from accidentally grounding it. Both C1 and C2 are rated at 200 V. THEY ARE NOT HIGH VOLTAGE COUPLING CAPACITORS. If the detector signal is at high voltage, an external high voltage coupling capacitor of adequate voltage rating must be connected from the detector to C1 and/or C2. This high voltage capacitor is not supplied with the PC121 due to the large variations of detector types and applications. Since the A121 is used in similar applications to the A111, please refer to the A111 connection diagrams and applications for additional information.
- Due to the high sensitivity at the input and the fast rise time signals that are generated at the output of the A121, care must be taken to the connections of the external wiring in order to avoid oscillations and noise pick-up. Enclosing the PC121 inside a small metal box is recommended.
A121s Orbiting Jupiter!
Amptek is proud to have supplied A121s for the JUNO mission to Jupiter, which entered into a polar orbit on July 4, 2016 to study Jupiter’s composition, gravity field, magnetic field, and polar magnetosphere. JUNO will also search for clues about how the planet formed, including whether it has a rocky core, the amount of water present within the deep atmosphere, mass distribution, and its deep winds.
Amptek’s A121s were used for the Jovian Auroral Distributions Experiment (JADE) on the Juno Mission to Jupiter. Following are photographs of the A121s in place:
A121 Mechanical Diagram
Downloads
Document List
No documents found.