A computer controlled apparatus for cyclic instrumental CPAA

An apparatus for cyclic charged particle activation was designed, built and connected to the 7 MV Van de Graaff CN accelerator of the Laboratori Nazionali dell'Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare di Legnaro (Italy). It mainly consists of a two-sample transverse moving system controlled by a Cycle Control Module (CCM). This module is based on a Programmable Logic Device (PLD) for the definition of the requested flow-maps and functions. The CCM operates the cc motor for sample movements by means of a power width modulation technique. It also controls the beam switch and the setting mode of the acquisition system which is connected to two HPGe detectors. As a feasibility test, the best experimental conditions for aluminium determination in complex. Al-doped biological samples were found to be an irradiation time of 3.5 minutes and a measuring time of 6 minutes. The signal to background ratio is reported as a function of the number of cycles.