PXI-Compatible Preamplifier and Amplifier for Proportional Gas Counters for Mössbauer Spectroscopy

A PXI-compatible amplifier and preamplifier module for the 57 Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy is presented in this paper. This PXI-compatible amplifier and preamplifier was developed for the purpose of utilization with proportional gas counters sensitive to the 14.4 keV low energy gamma rays as a part of PXI-based spectrometers developed at Palacký University Olomouc. The module is based on the Amptek A225 and A206 integrated circuits. This solution allows miniaturization of the spectrometric system, as the amplifier and the preamplifier are in a form of one PXI module, which is built in the compact PXI-chassis. There is also no need for an additional power supply, as the developed module is powered by the PXI connector included in the PXI chassis. This study deals with a comparison of the developed PXI-compatible amplifier and preamplifier board with the Amptek PC25 board in the stand-alone box (powered by a laboratory power supply), and with the ORTEC commercially available amplifier (572A) and preamplifier (142PC). The focus of this study is a comparison of those setups considering the false detections, lost detections, the multichannel analysis spectra, the Mössbauer spectrum quality, and the resonance effect of Mössbauer spectra.