DATA ACQUISITION WORKSTATION FOR OAK-RIDGE ELECTRON LINEAR-ACCELERATOR

A new multiparameter data acquisition system for the Oak Ridge Electro n Linear Accelerator (ORELA) [1] was developed, fabricated and tested. This system uses an IBM PS/2 Model 80-111 personal computer and a dat a handler with a 2048-word buffer. The buffer can accept data at a rat e exceeding one million events per second in bursts of 512 words of 64 -bits in length. The acquisition system, limited by software, can acqu ire data from 1, 2, or 3 digitizers; multiplex up to 4 detectors; read and control up to 16 scalers or registers; and output up to 32 dc log ic lines that can be used to control external instrumentation. Softwar e was developed for the OS/2 operating system, supporting multiparamet er data storage for up to three million channels. Data can be collecte d in a background mode to make the computer available for other tasks while collecting data. The system also supports multiparameter biasing and can collect, crunch, and store data at rates of 30,000 events per second, each event containing up to 64-bits of information. A technic al manual, ORNL/TM-11454, covering the use of the system has been publ ished.