Theoretical comparison between two different filtering techniques suitable for the VLSI spectroscopic amplifier ROTOR

The development of new detection systems based on arrays of Silicon Drift Detectors (SDD) used for new X-ray spectroscopy applications, like X-ray Holography and EXAFS experiments, requires the realization of suitable integrated low-noise electronics for the readout of the detector signals. Recently, a new VLSI time-variant signal processor called ROTOR has been developed. Despite its time-variant nature ROTOR is capable of correctly processing events randomly distributed along the time axis, thanks to the employment of the Concurrent Wheel Technique (CWT). Two different possible solutions for the ROTOR chip have been developed, both suitable for the CWT working mechanism. A theoretical comparison between the noise performances of the two filtering methods has been carried out and is presented in this work. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.