The MINOS data acquisition system

Author

Belias, A. ; Crone, G.J. ; Harris, E. Falk ; Howcroft, C. ; Madani, S. ; Nicholls, T.C. ; Pearce, G.F. ; Reyna, D.E. ; Tagg, N. ; Thomson, M.A.

Author_Institution

CCLRC Rutherford Appleton Lab., Oxon, UK

Volume

51

Issue

3

fYear

2004

fDate

6/1/2004 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

451

Lastpage

455

Abstract

The MINOS long-baseline neutrino experiment consists of two detectors separated by 730 km. Both are equipped with identical data acquisition (DAQ) systems, based on continuous, dead time free readout. Data are read from the untriggered front-end electronics by VME single board computers and transferred across high-speed PCI data links for consolidation by data routing processors. An array of Linux computers selects events of interest using software-based trigger algorithms. We present the design of the DAQ system and report on experience gathered during early operation of the experiment.

Keywords

computer networks; data acquisition; high energy physics instrumentation computing; neutrino detection; readout electronics; DAQ system; Linux computer array; MINOS data acquisition system; MINOS long-baseline neutrino experiment; VME single board computers; computer networks; continuous dead time free readout; data buses; data routing processors; high-speed PCI data links; programming; software-based trigger algorithms; untriggered front-end electronics; Acceleration; Astronomy; Data acquisition; Extraterrestrial measurements; Laboratories; Neutrino sources; Optical fibers; Physics; Protons; Solid scintillation detectors; Data acquisition; computer networks; data buses; programming;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Nuclear Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9499

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TNS.2004.828518

Filename

1310539