Abstract
The actual performance of modern spectroscopy amplifiers on the field is critically dependent on the setting of some analog controls and sensitive to some second-order effects, to be taken into account by the designer. The semi-automated pole-zero cancellation control is here introduced; precision adjustment is easily obtained under operating conditions by means of a Pole-Zero Adviser® circuit, without using auxiliary equipment (oscilloscope, etc.). Automated controls for the threshold and time constant of a gated baseline restorer are also considered. Some aspects in the design and high-resolution testing of spectroscopy amplifiers are discussed.