Linear unipolar pulse-shaping networks: current technology

The current usage of linear pulse-shaping filters is reviewed. It is shown that pulse amplifiers with different shaping networks are best compared for spectral resolution and count-rate capability at a shaped-pulse width measured at a specific fraction of peak height, preferably 50% (t/sub 1/2/). With this normalization, it is shown that the best tradeoff between noise and resolving time is obtained with the quasi-triangular waveform, the worst with the cusp. Noise, resolving time, and ballistic deficit are compared through graphs and tables for the cusp, true Gaussian, true triangle, CR-(RC)/sup n/, sine/sup n/, and quasi-triangular shapes for normalizations at t/sub p/, t/sub 1/2/, and t/sub 0.01/. Rules are given for estimating the effect of pulse shape on noise performance. >