kicksorter
Definition
Noun: 1. A scientific instrument for pulse height analysis: A kicksorter is an electronic device that sorts, counts, and analyzes electrical voltage pulses based on their amplitude (height). It allows only pulses within a specific, predetermined voltage range to pass through for measurement, enabling the classification of signals, such as those from radiation detectors.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The physicist used a kicksorter to analyze the spectrum of gamma rays emitted by the sample.
- Modern multichannel analyzers have largely replaced the older kicksorter technology in the laboratory.
Advanced Usage
- Historical Context: The term "kicksorter" is largely historical and was common in mid-20th-century physics, particularly in nuclear and particle physics. It refers to a single-channel pulse height analyzer.
- Functional Principle: The instrument "sorts" incoming pulses by "kicking out" or rejecting those that do not meet the selected voltage (height) criterion.
Variants and Related Words
- Pulse Height Analyzer (PHA) (n): The more modern and general term for an instrument that performs the function of a kicksorter, often with multiple channels (Multichannel Analyzer, MCA).
- Discriminator (n): An electronic circuit that is a key component of a kicksorter, responsible for allowing only pulses above a certain threshold to pass.
Synonyms
- Single-channel analyzer: A direct synonym describing the same type of instrument.
- Pulse height selector: A descriptive synonym focusing on its selective function.
Related Terms and Concepts
- Spectroscopy: The field of measuring and interpreting spectra, where kicksorters are used.
- Amplitude: The maximum height of a pulse, which is the property a kicksorter analyzes.
- Threshold: The predetermined voltage level that the kicksorter uses to accept or reject a pulse.
Noun
-
scientific instrument consisting of an electronic circuit that permits only voltage pulses of predetermined height to pass
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