A review of the data acquisition electronics for the ISIS spallation neutron source

The existing data acquisition system and its design concepts are reviewed for the ISIS facility at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. The focus is on data acquisition electronics for the ISIS facility. Current developments, including the transputer memory module and the data acquisition snapshot histogrammer (DASH) system, are discussed. Areas where there is a need for further development of the data acquisition electronics are identified. The conceptual design for the current data acquisition electronics started in 1980. The major future project will be a completely new design to accommodate developments of the ISIS facility over the next decade. These future developments are outlined.