Nuclear Pioneer MCA Multichannel Analyzer Gamma Spectrometer

My new project of Gamma Spectrometer - Nuclear Pioneer.
It can work with small and big NaI(Tl) probes. Can make the spectrum at high countrate CPS. Here are the photos attached and promo youtube video:


MCA specifications:

• ARM Cortex-M4 microprocessor
• 12-bit 4096 channels ADC
• TFT LCD 3.5” 480x320 with adjustable backlight level
• Rotary Encoder for controls
• 600V-1000V adjustable high voltage for photomultiplier probe positive polarity 
• 400V high voltage for an internal Geiger Counter
• Include tiny internal Geiger Counter sensor
• Adjustable gain & pulse shape pre-amplifier for an external photomultiplier probe
• Gamma Spectrometer Mode (tested up to 10.000 CPS)
• Scintillation Counter Mode with PMT and GM Sensor
• Easy Channel to Energy calibration with selectable scheme and channels pick
• Real time background subtract mode for gamma spectrometer
• Real time gaussian peak detection
• Linear or Logarithmic spectrum viewer
• Energy compensated dose rate
• 0.30 uSv/h doserate alert and 2-sigma CPS alert in scint.mode
• CPS standard deviation calibration for scint.mode
• Mute / Alert / Clicking in scint.mode
• Spectrum LCD zoom 512-4096 channels
• Micro SD card for data storage, include SD card
• RTC (include installed CR2032 battery for date and time keeping)
• Internal temperature sensor
• Bluetooth BLE module (optional)
• 12Mbit USB port for programming, calibration or data transfer
• Easy firmware update via USB and friendly bootloader
• Power supply: 3.7V LiPo battery, battery current consumption 250mA-350mA, LiPo included
• 3.7V LiPo battery USB charger, software low battery alert

  
 

very nice! Does it automatically detect the radiation source?

Yes it can detect some isotopes by auto as shown on the photos and video.
After channel-to-energy calibration done, Peak Data side bar will show energy of the detected peaks. The accuracy and performance of the RIID side bar is strongly depend on energy calibration function accuracy, probe linearity and crystal volume. It’s recommended to use at least 2x2” NaI(Tl) crystal for better performance of the MCA.
False detection can happen, and it usually caused by wrong channel picked during energy calibration, small integration time for a given crystal volume, too complicated spectrum with Compton overlay, artifacts or low linearity of a detector, limitations of the algorithm and the library, uncompensated temperature drift.
Current isotope library includes detection only for the following elements:
Am-241, Cs-137, K-40, Co-60, Ra-226
Gaussian peaks are detectable over the whole range of the spectrum. You can see detected peaks energies in Peak Data side bar table. That can help to identify other elements in a sample.

Energy scale calibration with selected scheme:

Several updates of the firmware released since my last post. Here is the summary of the current 4.12 software:

What is new in 4.12 firmware:

1. Library is structured into two groups. Now you can set in the RIID f(x) menu what type of the library to use: Industrial/N.O.R.M or Medical. Selected library hint is also shown on the main display as MED or IND. IND/N.O.R.M. includes:Cs-137, Am-241, Co-60, Co-57, Ba-133, Eu-152, Ra-226, Th-232, U-235, K-40  MED includes: I-131, Lu-177, F-18(beta) and following isotopes as it also used in Nuclear Medicine for calibration or procedures: Cs-137, Co-60, Co-57
2. I-131 assigned to the correct Medical classification.
3. Fixed false positive detection of I-131 caused by Ba-133 peaks
4. Fixed false positive detection of Bi-214 caused by Lu-177
5. Start logo of the device is replaced with a smaller image to free 137kBytes of storage memory for further updates.
6. Added F-18 511keV to the medical library, currently in beta mode.
7. Added blink notification for successful identification.  

​All previous bug fix and updates from 4.01-4.11 are included in 4.12

Isotope Library include:  Cs-137 ,  Ra-226 ,  Th-232 ,  Bi-214 ,  Ba-133 ,  Am-241 ,  Lu-177 ,  Eu-152 ,  K-40 ,  Co-60 ,  U-235 ,  I-131 ,  Co-57 , F18