MCA8000DFeatures• Compatible with traditional analog pulse shaping• MCA and MCS modes• High speed ADC (100 MHz, 16 bit) with digital pulse heightmeasurement• 8k data channels• Minimum pulse peaking time 500 ns• Conversion time 10 ns• Sliding-scale linearization• Differential nonlinearity <±0.6%• Integral nonlinearity <±0.02%• Two peak detection modes:  first peak after the threshold(nuclear spectroscopy) or absolute peak after the threshold(particle counter calibration in clean rooms)• Two TTL compatible gates for coincidence and anticoincidence• Supports USB, RS-232, and Ethernet communication interfaces• Dimensions:  5 x 2.8 x 0.8 in / 125 x 71 x 20 mm• Weight:  <165 g• USB powered• Free Display Acquisition Software supports ROI, energy calibration, peak information, MCA configuration, and file management• Free Software Developer’s Kit (SDK) Complete protocol and example code to be used in custom software applications• Optional PA Package for airborne and suspended particle detection applications

Fits in a shirt pocket!!
The MCA8000D is a full-featured digital multichannel analyzer intended to be used with a wide
variety of detector systems.

Amptek’s MCA8000D is a state-of-the-art, compact, high performance,
digital MultiChannel Analyzer (MCA). It replaces the MCA8000A, providing the same functionality with reduced dead time, modern communications
interfaces (USB, RS-232, and Ethernet), and much higher data transfer rates.
Because it does not implement digital pulse shaping, it is compatible withanalog pulse shaping systems.

Examples of unipolar (top) and bipolar (bottom)
input pulse shapes suitable for the MCA8000D

Figure 1. Example of unipolar input pulse.

Superior performance is obtained from a high speed ADC (a 100 MHz
16 bit ADC) and sophisticated digital logic. The MCA8000D digitizes theinput signal (the output of an analog shaping amplifier) to measure the pulse
height and obtain the pulse height spectrum. The high speed ADC, with a
10 ns conversion time, reduces dead time thus increasing throughput. The
digital circuitry yields high accuracy and stability.
The MCA8000D includes three interfaces, USB (USB 2.0 full speed),
RS-232 (up to 115 kB), and Ethernet (10base-T). It uses the same DPPMCA
software package as Amptek’s digital signal processors, including the DP5,PX5, and X-123. The MCA8000D can be powered over USB or with an
external AC/DC power supply.
Compromising nothing in performance, the MCA8000D is a low power,
light weight instrument which is exceptionally versatile and easy to use.

AMPTEK INC.
+1 781 275-2242

Figure 2. Example of bipolar input pulse.

14 DeAngelo Drive, Bedford, MA 01730-2204 USA

Fax: +1 781 275-3470

sales@amptek.com

www.amptek.com

SPECIFICATIONS
Performance Characteristics

Exterior Controls and Indicators

Pulse-Height
Digitizer

High speed 100 MHz, 14 bit ADC with digital pulse heightmeasurement

StatusLight

Input Ranges

0 to 1V or 0 to 10V (software selectable) (over range eventsare discarded)Power

Steady red light: power is ON and no data acquisition in progress.
Flashing red light: data acquisition in progress. (Same as amber lighton Ethernet connector.)

Number ofChannels

256, 512, 1k, 2k, 4k, or 8k (software selectable)

OperatingPower2 W.

Minimum Input
Risetime≥ 500 ns to meet specifications

Input
Power+5V at 0.4A

Dead Time Per
Pulse

10 ns plus pulse shaping time

Input
PowerRange+4V to +5.5V (0.5 to 0.4A typical)

Input
PowerSources

USB power or AC/DC adapter (supplied)

Peak Detection
Modes (SeeFigure 3)

Separate Peaks (V1) Standard to nuclear instrumentation
MCAs
Absolute Peak Above Typically used in airborne particle
Threshold (V2)sizing analyzers, in environmental
air monitoring systems and in aerosol
research

Connections

Differential
Nonlinearity<±0.6% from 5 mV to full scale

Integral
Nonlinearity<±0.02% over full scale

Gain Stability±10 ppm/ºC (typical)

Zero Drift±10 ppm/ºC (typical)

The analog input accepts positive unipolar or bipolar semigaussian
type pulses of shaping time constants ≥200 ns or peaking time
≥ 500 ns. See Figures 1 and 2.
The dynamic range is 0 to +1 V or 0 to +10 V, software selectable.
Minimum pulse height is 5 mV.
Input impedance is 1 kΩ or 100 kΩ (options at purchase).
The input has overload protection up to ±20 V.
The DC level of the input signal must be zero.

Low Level
Discriminator

Software selectable threshold, in increments of one channel

The MCA-8000D has two logic gates:

Counts per
ChannelMaximum = 16.7 x 106 counts (3 bytes)

GATE1 is generally used to synchronize acquisition with external
hardwareAcquisition Modes MCA and MCS (multichannel scaling) down to 10 ms/channel

Real and Live
Timers

Input

Data acquisition real or live time preset. Maximum preset
time 4,294,967.29 seconds (10 mS precision), or 999,999.999
seconds (1 mS precision). Shorter accumulation times can beachieved by gating the input signal with Gate 1 or Gate 2.

Gates

Real and Live Time 4,294,967.295 s (0.001 s precision)Acquisition Time 1,677,721.599 s (0.001 s precision)
Preset Counts

4,294,967,295 (232-1) in channel or ROI

Interface

RS232: 115.2 or 57.6 Kbaud.
USB: Standard 2.0 full speed (12 Mbps).
Ethernet: Standard 10base-T (UDP).

OperatingTemperature
TUV
Certification-20ºC to +60ºC.
Certificate #: CU 72131640 01
Tested to: UL 61010-1:2012
CAN/CSA-C22.2 NO. 61010-1-12

Interface(I/O)

GATE2 is generally used for pileup rejection
Each gate can be commanded to ACTIVE HIGH, ACTIVE LOW, or
DISABLED. When set to ACTIVE HIGH, if the input is high, then pulse
heights are recorded and the live time clock runs. The active state ofeach GATE input is evaluated at the time the peak of the input analog
pulse is detected.
USB: Standard USB Mini-B jack.
Ethernet: Standard Ethernet jack.
RS232: Standard 2.5 mm stereo audio jack.
Power plug mates with 3.5 mm x 1.3 mm x 9.5 mm female barrel,
center positive, plug connector.

Mechanical
Weight<165 gDimensions 5 x 2.8 x 0.8 in (125 x 71 x 20 mm).

Figure 3. Complete Pulse Height Analysis System

OPERATING NOTESAmptek’s MCA8000D is one component in a complete pulse height analysis system. Figure 3 illustrates a typical system: theradiation detector is connected to a charge sensitive preamplifier, which is connected to a shaping amplifier. The output of the shaping
amplifier is a pulse with peak amplitude proportional to the energy deposited in the detector. The MCA measures the amplitude of
the peak and produces a histogram representing the pulse height spectrum. This histogram, an integer array of the number of eventsin each pulse height channel, is the primary output of the MCA and istransferred to a computer over USB, Ethernet, or RS232 interfaces.
Amptek’s MCA8000D does not include pulse shaping circuitry
but only the MCA circuitry. The MCA8000D must be preceded bypulse shaping circuits. Figures 1 and 2 show typical pulse shapes input to the MCA8000D. Amptek, Inc has other products (including theDP5, DP5G, PX5, and PX5-HPGe) which include both pulse shaping
and MCA circuitry. These use digital pulse processing for the very bestperformance. Please contact Amptek, Inc for information on these integrated systems. Note that some manufacturers use the term “MCA” formodules which include both the pulse shaping and the traditional MCA
functions.

Figure 4. MCA8000D Back View

Amptek’s MCA8000D is most often used to measure the energy
spectrum from a radiation detector, where the pulse height is proportional to energy but can be used in other applications. For example,instruments used to monitor cleanrooms produce an output pulse proportional to the size of the particle, so the MCA8000D is used tomeasure the particle size spectrum. Some radiation detection systems used in timing produce a pulse height proportional to the time
between events (using a time to amplitude converter), so the MCA8000D yields a timing spectrum.

SOFTWARE
The MCA8000D can be controlled by the Amptek DPPMCA display and acquisition software. This software sets the configuration(number of channels, input range, etc), can start and stop acquisitions, can display the spectra, and supports basic analysis functions
such as defining regions of interest (ROI), performing calibrations, peak searching, and so on. Data are saved in an ASCII file format.
The DPPMCA software is also used with Amptek’s digital pulse processors, including the DP5, Gamma-Rad5, PX5, etc.
The MCA8000D comes with a complete Software Development Kit (SDK). The user can use this platform to easily develop software to control the MCA for custom applications or to interface it to a larger system. Examples are provided in VB, VC++, etc. The
standard DPPMCA software runs only on Windows operating systems but users can develop interface software running on Linux orother operating systems using documentation and sample code which are provided.

ADVANCED ANALYSESThe pulse height spectrum is the primary output from the MCA8000D. It can also be used in a “multichannel scaling” mode torecord count rate vs time (down to 10 ms/channel).

OPTION PA FOR PARTICLE COUNTINGThe Option PA package has been developed to facilitate the use of theMCA8000D for particle counting in airborne (Size Calibration) andliquid suspended1 (Number Calibration) particle applications. The
unit is calibrated and certified traceable to the National Institute ofStandards and Technology (NIST).

V1 = Nuclear Instrumentation MCA’s
V2 = Airborne Particle Sizing Analyzers

The Option PA package is capable of detecting pulses from 5 mV
to 10 V. The MCA8000D is typically connected to the output of aparticle sensor. It detects and displays a spectrum of pulse heights
allowing the user to determine if a given particle size is producing
the correct voltage.
The software included with the MCA provides information on thepeak center (centroid and mean calculation) making it easy to determine
if the peak is in the correct position. The supplied calibration curves
convert the MCA channel scale to a mV scale. The calibration curves
can be set to load automatically when the software opens.
Sommer, H.T. “IMPLEMENTING PARTICLE COUNTER CALIBRATION PER ISO
11171-1999.”; TEAM Service, Inc., P.O. Box 220, Merlin, OR 97532, (541)476-4744,
HolgerTSo@aol.com; Copyright Society of Automotive Engineers

1Threshold

V1 - First peakafter threshold

V2 - Absolute peakafter threshold

Figure 5. MCA8000D Peak Detection Modes

Figure 6. Example of DPPMCA Software for MCA8000D

Figure 7. Example of DPPMCA Software showing multiple spectra
capability

1.0E+06

Frequently Asked Questions
How does the MCA8000D differ from the previous MCA8000A?
1) It now supports USB, Ethernet, and RS232 interfaces
with much faster data transfers.  It makes operation
with modern computers very easy.
2) It uses the DPPMCA acquisition software, a new version of the older ADMCA software.
3) It can be powered by USB or an external plug.  It does
not contain a battery.
4) It has 8k data channels and is specified for pulse risetimes >0.5 us.
5) It is an all digital solution, with a fast ADC and digitalpeak detection.
6) It is smaller and lighter.

1.0E+05

Uranium oxide (unenriched)Thorium lantern mantle

1.0E+03

1.0E+02

1.0E+01
Canberra HPGe detector (GC1020)
Canberra 2025 Shaping Amplifier
Amptek MCA8000D
1.0E+00

0500

1,000

1,500
Energy (keV)

2,000

2,500

3,000

Figure 8. MCA8000D spectra using HPGe Detector

MCA8000D Ordering Information

MCA8000D Basic Package - for Nuclear Instrumentation  •  MCA8000D  •  One AC adapter for MCA8000D  •  One BNC signal cable (1 meter length)  •  One Mini-USB cable  •  DPPMCA Display Software installation disk

MCA8000D PA Package - for Airborne Particle Sizing  •  MCA8000D Basic Package, modified for 100 kΩ input
impedance  •  NIST traceable calibration  •  Certificate of Calibration

XRF-FP Quantitative Analysis Software - Optional
Quantitative Analysis
Energy (keV)

MnPbCounts

Counts

1.0E+04

MoKAnalysis
K 17.47%
Cr 3.76%
Mn 8.06%
Fe 4.75%
Cu 1.53%
Ge 4.98%
Pb 11.45%
Rb 3.08%
Sr 3.77%
Zr 7.37%
Nb 9.82%
Mo 15.42%
Au 6.26%
Other 2.28%

FeaturesFundamental Parameter (FP) Calculations
Analysis with or without standards
General bulk and thin-film analysis
Analyze up to 40 elements
Automode for continuous or repeated analyses
Spectrum Processing• Spectrum calibration• Background removal and blank subtraction• Escape peak and sum peak removal• Smoothing• Deconvolution: Intensity extraction

AMPTEK INC. 14 DeAngelo Drive, Bedford, MA 01730-2204 USA+1 781 275-2242

Fax: +1 781 275-3470

sales@amptek.com

www.amptek.com