A Multichannel Electrometer Data-Acquisition System

A multichannel electrometer data-acquisition system, with associated software control, has been developed for dosimetry measurements of the pion beam at the Clinton P. Anderson Meson Physics Facility in Los Alamos, New Mexico. This system increases dosimetry data-acquisition rates by a factor equal to the number of data channels in use. It is based on a newly-developed electrometer amplifier capable of accurate measurements at picoampere signal levels. Design and construction of the electrometers is presented here in detail, and examples of data acquired with this system are presented. The effect on the readings due to scattered and background radiation has been measured.