High resolution, high rate X-ray spectrometer

A system for processing pulses generated in response to detected signals of differing magnitudes, said system comprising;

• a main channel pulse shaping means for generating a substantially symmetrical triangular main channel pulse in response to each detected signal, said main channel pulses having amplitudes proportional to the magnitudes of said detected signals, said main channel pulses each having a substantially constant pulse width,
• a fast channel pulse shaping means for generating a substantially symmetrical triangular fast channel pulse in response to each detected signal, said fast channel pulses each having a substantially constant pulse width which is substantially independent of the magnitudes of the detected signals and which is substantially less than the pulse width of the main channel pulses,
• output means for receiving said main channel pulses and for generating output pulses corresponding to said main channel pulses, with the amplitudes of the output pulses being proportional to the amplitude of the main channel pulses to which they correspond.
• pile-up rejector means for receiving said fast channel pulses and for allowing said output means to generate two successive output pulses corresponding to two successive main channel pulses whenever the time duration between the corresponding fast channel pulses, which are generated in response to the same detected signals that cause the two successive main channel pulses to be generated, is greater than a time which is equal to the longest of the rise or fall times of the main channel pulses.