Data acquisition workstation for Oak Ridge Electron Linear Accelerator

A multiparameter data acquisition system for the Oak Ridge Electron Linear Accelerator (ORELA) is described. This system uses a personal computer and a data handler with a 2048-word buffer. The buffer can accept data at a rate exceeding one million events per second in bursts of 512 words 64-b in length. The acquisition system, limited by software, can acquire data from one, two or three digitizers; multiplex up to four detectors; read and control up to 16 scalers or registers; and output up to 32 DC logic lines that can be used to control external instrumentation. Software was developed for the OS/2 operating system, supporting multiparameter data storage for up to those million channels. Data can be collected in background mode to make the computer available for other tasks while collecting data. The system supports multiparameter biasing and can collect, crunch, and store data at rates of 30000 events/s, each event containing up to 64 b of information