Multiparameter data acquisition system for spectroscopy

A powerful and versatile, simple to use multiparameter data acquisition sys tem has been implemented for use in spectroscopy. In its standard configura tion, the system can acquire signal from 16 time-to-digital converter chann els, 16 analog-to-digital converter channels, and 12 scaler inputs. The sys tem was put to use on the electron beam ion trap experiment to record the o utput from four position-sensitive proportional counters in two soft x-ray spectrometers together with the signal from an x-ray pulse height analyzer. Also recorded are the electron beam energy and the pulse height distributi on of the proportional counters. All data are recorded as a function of tim e. Because the relevant parameters are recorded simultaneously, software ga tes instead of hardware gates are used to select the data of interest. This has led to a substantial cost saving over earlier data acquisition systems . Data are stored in binary or in ascii format for system-independent proce ssing. The operation of the system is demonstrated in a measurement of the M-shell soft x-ray spectrum of gold. We used the system to record the 3-4 a nd 3-5 transitions of gold (Au44+-Au51+) excited with a simulated Maxwellia n with electron temperature of 2.5 keV. (C) 2001 American Institute of Phys ics.