Calibration of a Multichannel Analyzer

Determination of range of energies involved. Assume this is 0  

Assume that the particle energy results in pulse height V. Is this amplification proper for obtaining a pulse height 10 V for energy To find this out, the observer should use the fact that pulse height and particle energy are proportional. Therefore, 

If 10 V, then the amplification setting is proper. If 10 V, the amplification should be reduced. (If 2 V, amplification should be increased. It is good practice, but not necessary, to use the full range of allowed voltage pulses.) The maximum pulse can be changed by changing the amplifier setting. 

Determination of MCA settings. One first decides the part of the MCA memoiy to be used. Assume that the MCA has a 1024-channel memory and it has been decided to use 256 channels, one-fourth of the memory. Also assume that a spectrum of a known source with energy is recorded and that the peak is registered in channel Cj. Will the energy be registered in 256, or will it be out of scale  

The channel number and energy are almost proportioned, i.e., , C . Therefore 

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