Pattern recognition processor and its application to straight line reconstruction of spark chamber data

Abstract

A general purpose hardware processor is described for use in conjunction with a digital computer to speed up reconstruction of straight line tracks from data generated in wire spark chamber experiments. The processor receives both data and operating instructions from the computer. With a 50 ns cycle time it executes a search algorithm which simultaneously tests many possible combinations of data. It quickly sorts out the points that are likely candidates for straight lines; the computer makes the final decision. 100 spark chamber events taken at the Argonne National Laboratory were analyzed using a pure software approach and compared with an analysis using responses from the Pattern Recognition Processor as simulated by a separate program. For equivalent operations the latter performed approximately four times as fast. The expectation that the Pattern Recognition Processor will do even better as the complexity of the events increases is discussed.