Figure 14.

Schematic diagram of energy dispersive solid-state detector signal processing. The preamplifier pulse train shows sharp step-like voltage increases corresponding to the arrival of photons at the detector, superimposed upon a slower exponential decay. The size of the preamplifier voltage steps is proportional to the energy of the photons. The preamplifier pulse train can then be analyzed either by older analog electronics, using a shaping amplifier (a typical oscilloscope type display is depicted, triggering on the voltage rise), the output of which is sent to an analog to digital converter, or directly by modern digital signal processing. The latter involves a fast analog to digital converter, and real-time shape analysis of the preamplifier pulse train.