Precision differential digitizer

A high dynamic range, state of the art, differential digitizer and used in coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy and spontaneous Raman spectroscopy experiments is described. The digitizer is a high speed device used to extract small signal pulses from large background noise levels. The gate window, for differential subtraction, can be varied by front panel control from 50 to 500 ns. A five digit display shows the digital word which is presented to the computer interface and which represents the corrected pulse height. The testing procedures and the design criteria are presented. The setup procedures, with complete FORTRAN programs, are given for individual digitizer analysis.