GBS Elektronik MCA166-USB - Manual (Page 5)

1 Introduction
The MiniMCA MCA166-USB is a battery powered high performance 4K Multi-Channel
Analyzer/Multi-Channel Scaler module comparable in its performance with laboratory
grade MCA. High voltage supply for detector and preamplifier power supply are integrated
as well as an internal amplifier and pulse shaping network. Together with a small detector
it forms a pocket-size gamma spectroscopy system and timer / counter, which is well
suited to the demands of field measurements for international safeguards, environmental
monitoring, nuclear waste treatment facilities, radioactive transport control and similar
applications.
Furthermore, the MCA166-USB supports a vast number of different detectors and its 4k
resolution is adequate to support high resolution gamma spectrometry with HPGe
detectors.
The MiniMCA software allows to operate the device as a general purpose multi channel
analyzer (SPEC, WinSPEC) and multi scaler analyzer (MCS, WinMCS). Additional user
programs which support safeguards specific applications as U-235 enrichment
verification, spectral radiation survey meter mode supporting active length determination
are available. See chapter 3 for more information.
The device can also be operated with the ORTEC software (MAESTRO, GammaVision,
ScintiVision etc.); contact ORTEC for details.
The firmware of the MCA166-USB (software of MCAs internal processor) is described in
Appendix 3 and 4. Instructions how to change the firmware can be found in Appendix 5.
Basic software functions
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File menu: write/read functions with drive/path and file pick list functions
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Setup menu: ADC, Amplifier, Presets, Memory splitting, MCA mode, MCS mode,
Multi spectral recording mode, automated instrument configuration using setup files
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Acquire control: Start, Stop, Clear, Presets
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Automated repeated measurement functions
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Display functions: Automated linear and logarithmic, manual linear Y scale, X axis,
expansion and scrolling, Cursor function, ROI setting and processing
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Peak stabilization
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Analysis functions: ROI peak area and integral, FWHM calculation
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Analysis report function
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Energy calibration function: calibration curve using up to 3 peaks
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Incorporated help texts
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