A flexible data acquisition system for timing pulsars

Abstract

We describe a flexible, inexpensive data acquisition system built for high-precision timing observations of pulsars. The system is designed to interface with a wide variety of radio telescope receiver back ends; it permits standardized measurement techniques and data formats in work carried out at a number of different observatories. Copies of the basic ‘‘Mark III’’ system are now in regular use at the Arecibo Observatory, Green Bank, and the Very Large Array. We describe the specifications, hardware, and software implementation of the system, and briefly outline some of its current applications.