A Command Language Based Data-Acquisition and Analysis System for Low Energy Physics

Abstract

An open-ended Command Language based data-acquisition and analysis system for low energy nuclear physics applications is described. The system is designed to accommodate user-written command functions as well as standard system functions. The system insulates users from each other so that a user has access to only his particular functions and those of the system. Features include a Help function, free format input with prompting for omitted parameters, an extensive error message facility, and dynamic memory management. Particular effort has been directed at making the system as natural and logical as possible to the physicist/user while giving him maximum flexibility in controlling his experiment. The incorporation of reasonable defaults, free format input, and extensive checking of input with appropriate diagnostics is essential. Although this paper details a system developed for nuclear physics applications, the techniques are applicable to a variety of data acquisition and control applications.