A new method for the determination of electric signal time-shifts is introduced. As the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, it is based on the comparison of the cumulative distribution functions of the reference signal with the test signal. This method is very
fast and thus well suited for on-line applications. It is robust to noise and its performances in terms of precision are excellent for time-shifts ranging from a fraction to several sample durations. PACS. 29.40.Gx (Tracking and position-sensitive detectors), 29.30.Kv (X- and -ray spectroscopy), 07.50.Qx (Signal processing electronics)
Modern coaxial and planar HPGe detectors allow a precise determination of the energies and trajectories of the impinging gamma-rays. This entails the location of the gamma interactions inside the crystal from the shape of the delivered signals. This
paper reviews the state of the art of the analysis of the HPGe response function and proposes methods that lead to optimum signal decomposition. The generic matrix method allows fast location of the interactions even when the induced signals strongly overlap.
Detection systems rely more and more on on-line or off-line comparison of detected signals with basis signals in order to determine the characteristics of the impinging particles. Unfortunately, these comparisons are very sensitive to the random time
shifts that may alter the signal delivered by the detectors. We present two fast algebraic methods to determine the value of the time shift and to enhance the reliability of the comparison to the basis signals.
A new method is proposed for the problem of solving chi-square minimization with a positive solution. This method is embodied in an evolution of the popular NNLS algorithm. Its efficiency with respect to residue minimization is illustrated by the imp
rovement it permits on the location of gamma-interactions inside an AGATA HPGe detector.
