Pulse Pile-up Correction by Particle Swarm Optimization with Double-layer Parameter Identification Model in X-ray Spectroscopy

In X-ray spectrum analysis, the pulse pile-up is a long-standing issue which deteriorates the energy resolution and count rates of the radiation detection systems. In this study, a novel pulse pile-up identification method based on particle swarm optimization and double-layer parameter identification model (PSO-DLPIM) is proposed. Different Gaussian pile-up waveforms are realized by exponential pulse through Sallen-Key (S-K) low-pass filtering. Then, the proposed model recognizes the parameters of each sub-Gaussian pulse. Especially, it can be used to modelling the pulse indirectly without a certain model parameter and overcomes the model mismatch troubles. Finally, computer simulations and experimental tests are carried out and the results show that this method has higher accuracy for the recognition of pile-up pulses. The example shows that the minimum distance between pulses that can be identified by this method is 0.05 μs. And when the pulse generation time is known and the environmental noise is low, the relative error of the amplitude of pulse pile-up recognition is as low as 0.15%. Therefore, this method can greatly improve the resolution of the X-ray spectrum.