Multi-parameter Data Acquisition System Research Articles

Design of a multiparameter data acquisition and control system for in situ seabed observation base stations

AbstractWith the exploration, development, and research of deep‐sea resources, there is an urgent need for long‐term and continuous observation data of the deep‐sea seabed boundary layer. The traditional method of deep‐sea seabed survey and sampling based on scientific research vessels has the discontinuity of observation data in space and time scales. There are some problems in the seabed in situ observation method based on the seabed observation network for low mobility and high operation and maintenance costs, restricting the in‐depth understanding of the dynamic change process of the deep‐sea floor. To solve the above problems, an open and modular data acquisition control system was designed based on an embedded system and signal processing technology. In terms of the physical, chemical, geological, and ecosystem characteristics of the seafloor or near the seafloor boundary layer, various functional sensors and instrumentation were matched to form an independent underwater integrated measurement or experimental device, eventually realizing in situ multiparameter and long‐time series observations of the seafloor. The system data acquisition and control test were completed through laboratory experiments, which verified the feasibility of the system design. The research showed important theoretical and technical reference significance for the exploration and development of resources in the submarine boundary layer and the promotion of deep‐sea scientific research.

The research on data acquisition and processing method of photovoltaic special metering protection unit based on LMS adaptive filtering

In order to solve the problem of synchronous acquisition of multi-parameter data of photovoltaic special metering protection unit and reduce the noise pollution of sensor data, this paper designs a multi-parameter data acquisition system of photovoltaic special metering protection unit; The system uses RN7326 and SWM32F103R chips as the main and auxiliary microprocessors, and designs a scheme of multi-sensor signal filtering and interface resource acquisition; The standardized data communication protocol is studied and designed to realize the synchronous data acquisition of multiple sensors; Finally, the LMS (Least mean square) based on adaptive filtering method is used to reduce the noise of multi-parameter data. In this paper, the temperature sensor pt100 is taken as an example to conduct temperature acquisition and filtering processing experiments. After data filtering, the noise above 1Hz is basically eliminated, and the noise pollution is effectively reduced when the noise amplitude is less than 1Hz, and the accuracy of sensor data is improved.

A tailored 200 parameter VME based data acquisition system for IBA at the Lund Ion Beam Analysis Facility – Hardware and software

With the recent advances towards modern Ion Beam Analysis (IBA), going from one- or few-parameter detector systems to multi-parameter systems, it has been necessary to expand and replace the more than twenty years old CAMAC based system. A new VME multi-parameter (presently up to 200 channels) data acquisition and control system has been developed and implemented at the Lund Ion Beam Analysis Facility (LIBAF).The system is based on the VX-511 Single Board Computer (SBC), acting as master with arbiter functionality and consists of standard VME modules like Analog to Digital Converters (ADC’s), Charge to Digital Converters (QDC’s), Time to Digital Converters (TDC’s), scaler’s, IO-cards, high voltage and waveform units. The modules have been specially selected to support all of the present detector systems in the laboratory, with the option of future expansion. Typically, the detector systems consist of silicon strip detectors, silicon drift detectors and scintillator detectors, for detection of charged particles, X-rays and γ-rays.The data flow of the raw data buffers out from the VME bus to the final storage place on a 16 terabyte network attached storage disc (NAS-disc) is described. The acquisition process, remotely controlled over one of the SBCs ethernet channels, is also discussed. The user interface is written in the Kmax software package, and is used to control the acquisition process as well as for advanced online and offline data analysis through a user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI). In this work the system implementation, layout and performance are presented. The user interface and possibilities for advanced offline analysis are also discussed and illustrated.

Response function and relative efficiency measurementsof the BC501A scintillator by usinga 252Cf fast fission chamber

The response function and relative efficiency of a Φ50.8 mm×50.8 mm BC501A scintillator has been measured by using a252Cf fast fission chamber. In this method,a multi-parameter data acquisition system is employed to take the time-of-flight (TOF),pulse shape discrimination (PSD) and recoil energy (RE. note: fission neutron induces recoil proton while the prompt gamma ray induces Compton recoil electron) of the fission neutron and prompt gamma ray in an event-by-event mode with a TOF gate. The off-line data analysis method for separating the prompt gamma ray from the fission neutron as well as its contribution to the TOF spectrum and RE spectrum to obtain the relative efficiency and response function is discussed in detail. An accurate calibration of the effective neutron detection threshold is carried out by a linear extrapolation of the section around the point of inflexion in the relative efficiency plots using neutron energy directly. The relative efficiency with 0.51 MeV effective neutron detection threshold agrees with the Monte Carlo calculation result of NEFF. The response function from 0.5 MeV to 5 MeV generally agrees with the published experimental result of the NE213 scintillator of the same size.

A high-resolution, multi-parameter, β–γ coincidence, μ–γ anticoincidence system for radioxenon measurement

A high-resolution β–γ coincidence measurement system has been developed by combining a high-purity broad energy germanium and a silicon surface barrier detector. The system is intended for calibration of reference spikes and re-measurement of CTBT samples, by detection of coincident β–γ or conversion electron and X-ray radiation of the four radioxenon isotopes 131mXe, 133mXe, 133Xe and 135Xe. The use of a high-resolution, list-mode, multi-parameter data acquisition system allows off-line setup and optimization of the (anti)coincidence. A 166mHo β–γ source has been produced and validated for energy calibration and system check. The β–γ coincidence has been further enhanced by a cosmic muon veto based on six plastic scintillation detectors. The μ–γ anticoincidence has been implemented using a 50ns resolution real-time clock for time spectroscopy. This method has been verified by running conventional TAC-ADC (combined time–amplitude and analog–digital converter) based time spectroscopy in parallel. The whole measurement system has been characterized, by measuring various radioxenon spikes and backgrounds with and without (anti)coincidence. Peak efficiencies and minimum detectable activities (MDA) for the main radioxenon isotopes have been determined. Application of μ–γ anticoincidence reduced the MDA by about a factor of two for all four radioxenon isotopes. Complementary adoption of β–γ coincidence further reduced the MDA for the metastable isotopes by more than an order of magnitude. The MDA for 135Xe reaches about 6mBq after 1 day of measurement. For 131mXe, 133Xe and 133mXe a MDA of about 2mBq is obtained after one week measurement.

Digital pulse processor for ion beam microprobe imaging

Capabilities of spectroscopic ion beam analysis (IBA) techniques that are available in ion microprobe facilities can be greatly improved by the use of digital pulse processing. We report here development of a digital multi parameter data acquisition system suitable for IBA imaging applications. Input signals from charge sensitive preamplifier are conditioned by using a simple circuit and digitized with fast ADCs. The digitally converted signals are processed in real time using FPGA. Implementation of several components of the system is presented.

Low cost, portable, fast multiparameter data acquisition system for organic transistor odour sensors

We demonstrate a cost-effective but fast multiparameter data acquisition system for odour sensors based on low threshold organic field effect transistors (OFETs) with an amorphous methoxy-derivative of poly(triaryl amine) (PTA-OMe) as semiconductor. The system applies a simple algorithm to measure OFET saturated transfer characteristics with a tailored operational amplifier circuit that is interfaced to a laptop that controls the circuit and analyses data with bespoke software. Despite the semiconductor's low charge carrier mobility μ ∼ 5 × 10 −5 Vs/cm 2, the system returns multiparameter OFET data: OFET source–drain current I SD in both the ‘on’ and ‘off’ state, carrier mobility μ, and threshold ( V T), in real time (resolution <1 s). The system is tested by exposing the OFET to a series of alcohol odours at different concentrations. Sensor response is quick, and follows a distinct trend IPA > PrOH > EtOH > MeOH.

Coincidence Measurement of 189W Decay Gamma Rays

To our knowledge, the earliest work concerning W decay was done by Flegenheimer et al. in 1963. They determined the half-life of W to be 11min. A maximum energy of around 1.4MeV for W was obtained. In 1965, Kauranen and Ihochi studied W through the Os(n, ) W reaction. Its half-life was determined to be 11:5 0:3min. An end-point energy of 2:5 0:2MeV for the -spectrum of W was obtained. Its ten rays with energies of 94, 130, 178, 222, 258, 360, 417, 550, 855, and 955 keV were found. A cascade of two rays at 222 and 258 keV was observed. In ref. 3, Mirzadeh et al. investigated W decay via the Os(n, ) W reaction. Through the measurement of singles spectra, they observed two rays with energies of 260.4 and 421.7 keV from W decay and got their relative intensities. In 1997, Yang et al. made a singles -ray spectrum measurement by using an HPGe detector. Twenty two rays which can be assigned to the decay of W were found. Eighteen of these rays were observed for the first time. Subsequently in 2003, Wu and Niu gave a sample decay scheme (Fig. 1) including two rays of W at 222.0 and 260.4 keV based on the -ray data of Yang et al. and the reaction data of Hirning et al. But until now, no precise coincidence measurement for W rays was made. The present work is to check the coincidence relations inferred from previous work. The measurement of rays from W decay was taken with X– and – coincidence methods in our experiments. The (n, ) and (n, ) reactions were proved to be efficient ways for producing W in previous work. So in this work, we selected the Os(n, ) W reaction to produce W. The present experiments were performed using 14MeV neutrons from the 600-kV Cockcroft–Walton accelerator at the Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. 14MeV neutrons were produced by the reaction of TiT targets with deuterons. W activities were produced using irradiation of isotopically enriched Os metallic powder of 100mg/cm with 14MeV neutrons. Osmium targets each were irradiated for 30min to fit the 10.7min half-life of W. And then they were transported into a lead-shielded room by an improved rabbit system. The measurement started 20 s after the end of irradiation with a planar HPGe detector (for X-ray and low energy -ray measurement) and a clover detector which consists of four coaxial N-type Germanium detectors. The former has an energy resolution of 0.6 keV for the 122 keV line of Co, an active diameter of 32mm, and a sensitive depth of 10mm; each of the latter has a 25% efficiency and an energy resolution of 2.1 keV for the 1332 keV line of Co. The two detectors were placed face to face on both sides of the source in the lead-shielded room. The measurement lasted 30min to fit the half-life of W. The count rate of single detector was about 100/s in the experiment. The coincidence window width of 100 ns was chosen. Thus the infection of the chance coincidence was not significant. The procedure mentioned above was repeated many times to improve the counting statistics. (X)-ray singles events and three parameter coincidence (X)– –t were recorded with a Multi-Parameter Data Acquisition System, where t was the time of each event after the beginning of a counting period. During the irradiation, several radioactive isotopes of Os, Re, and W were produced by (n,2n), (n, ), (n,p) and (n, ) reactions, respectively. It was not possible to observe rays from W decay through singles spectra because of the lower W yield and the large backgrounds from other nuclides produced in the experiments. The X– coincidence measurement was made so as to obtain rays from W decay. A part of the -ray spectrum in coincidence with 61.1 keV Re K 1 and 59.7 keV Re K 2 X rays is presented in Fig. 2.

A multiparameter data acquisition system based on universal serial bus interface for electron momentum spectrometer

A versatile multiparameter data acquisition system based on universal serial bus (USB) interface was designed and has been used on the electron momentum spectromenter. Digitized data were first buffered in a FIFO memory in an event-by-event mode with a check bit, and then transferred to computer through the USB interface. USB interface combined with a microcontroller unit provides much flexibility for data acquisition and experimental controls. The operation performance of the system is demonstrated in the measurement of electron momentum spectra of CH2F2 molecules.

Nuclear physics research program at the [formula omitted] Karaj cyclotron

A versatile reaction chamber and its accessories as well as a multiparameter data acquisition system were designed, assembled, and installed in the R&D hall at NRCAM to allow nuclear measurements. The 209 Bi(p,f) and 197 Au(p,f) reaction experiments at E p=30 MeV were performed. The good agreement between our experimental results as compared with previously published data are presented here to show the reliability of our apparatus. In the case of the bismuth reaction, the fission cross section obtained by using pair spectrometry as well as its associated error have been measured for the first time.

The Pierre Süe Laboratory nuclear microprobe as a multi-disciplinary analysis tool

The nuclear microprobe at the Pierre Süe Laboratory is a facility exclusively devoted to microanalysis. The microprobe consisting of a single stage Van de Graaff accelerator and two microbeam lines will be described. Simultaneous detection (X-rays, γ-rays, charged particles, etc.) and imaging are routinely performed by a PC-based multi-parameter data acquisition system. Telescope mounting is frequently used for particle identification particularly when performing nuclear reaction analysis (NRA). A unique feature of the Pierre Süe Laboratory nuclear microprobe is the ability to analyze radioactive samples. One of the two beamlines has been specifically designed for that purpose. Radioactive environment requires suited target handling and detection setups. Main application fields of the microprobe are material, earth, planetary, environmental sciences and electronuclear related topics.

Multiparameter data acquisition system for spectroscopy

A powerful and versatile, simple to use multiparameter data acquisition system has been implemented for use in spectroscopy. In its standard configuration, the system can acquire signal from 16 time-to-digital converter channels, 16 analog-to-digital converter channels, and 12 scaler inputs. The system was put to use on the electron beam ion trap experiment to record the output from four position-sensitive proportional counters in two soft x-ray spectrometers together with the signal from an x-ray pulse height analyzer. Also recorded are the electron beam energy and the pulse height distribution of the proportional counters. All data are recorded as a function of time. Because the relevant parameters are recorded simultaneously, software gates instead of hardware gates are used to select the data of interest. This has led to a substantial cost saving over earlier data acquisition systems. Data are stored in binary or in ascii format for system-independent processing. The operation of the system is demonstrated in a measurement of the M-shell soft x-ray spectrum of gold. We used the system to record the 3–4 and 3–5 transitions of gold (Au44+–Au51+) excited with a simulated Maxwellian with electron temperature of 2.5 keV.

DEVELOPMENT OF IN-AIR MICRO-PIXE ANALYSIS AND DATA SHARING SYSTEMS IN JAERI TAKASAKI

An external scanning ion microbeam system has been developed for in-air micro-PIXE analysis at JAERI Takasaki. The analysis system is widely used for various researches in recent years. The system consists of the external scanning ion microbeam system, a multi-parameter data acquisition system, a file transfer protocol (FTP) server and analysis software. The software of the system provides a graphical user interface for interaction between users and an experimental setup. The server is connected to the Internet and allows remote users to access the experimental data.

A coincidence experimental setup for investigating multiple electron processes

The coincidence experimental setup for studying multiple electron processes at low energies established at the Institute of Modern Physics was presented. The setup includes time-of-flight spectrometer, position sensitive detector, and multi-parameter data acquisition system. Presented were a TOF spectrum for Ar12+ on Ar collisions, a position spectrum obtained in O2+ + He collisions, and a two-dimension spectrum for Ar8+ + Ar collisions at 104 keV. The experimental results were analyzed in detail and 12 subprocesses were identified from the two-dimension spectrum.

Development of a fast multi-parameter data acquisition system for microbeam analyses

A commercially available Personal Computer (PC)-based multi-parameter data acquisition system has been developed for ion microbeam analyses. The PC is equipped with a recent fast processor, a large volume of memory and a general multi-channel Analogue to Digital Converter (ADC) interface board. When a signal from an X-ray detector (PIXE), from a particle detector (RBS)or from others triggers this ADC for data acquisition. X-Y beam scanning control signals which indicate the beam position are also digitized at the same time. These data are addressed to the 3D matrices in the memory space, that consist of 1024 channels for the energy spectra and 150 × 150 pixels for corresponding the beam scan area. Real time data processing can be done in addition to this data acquisition by the fast processor with the large memory. Simultaneous PIXE and RBS elemental mapping and ion beam induced charge (IBIC) imaging on fine structure diodes have been demonstrated with this system.

Development of a Micro-PIXE Camera

We developed a system of μ-PIXE analysis at the division of Takasaki ion accelerator for advanced radiation application (TIARA) in Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI), which consists of a microbeam apparatus, a multi-parameter data acquisition system and a personal computer. Elemental analysis in the region of 500 μ m × 500 μ m can be performed with a spatial resolution of &lt; 0.3 μm and multi-elemental distributions are presented as images on a computer display even during measurement. We call this system a micro-PIXE camera.

A multi-parameter system for acquisition, monitoring, and analysis of scanning ion microprobe data

The multi-parameter data-acquisition system for the Eindhoven scanning ion microprobe set-up is described. The front-end part of the system is based on an M68030 in VME and handles real-time data acquisition, experiment control and data transport. It is linked to a DEC ALPHA-AXP workstation for data storage, on-line data monitoring and data analysis and off-line data analysis. The system can be used to apply simultaneously the micro-PIXE, NBS and NFS techniques to determine elemental concentration distributions on biomedical samples, but can also be used for coincident ion scattering experiments and time or dose dependent studies of e.g. ion-beam induced radiation damage.

The new prompt gamma-activation analysis facility at Budapest

Prompt gamma-activation analysis (PGAA) is an important complementary technique to conventional instrumental activation analysis that can be successfully used in a number of cases when INAA is not applicable. Therefore, a PGAA facility has been constructed at the recently refurbished and upgraded Budapest Research Reactor. It occupies the end position of a new curved themal guide of 30 m length and 2.5×10 cm2 cross section which provides a clean beam of low energy neutrons. The sophisticated HPGe-BGO γ-ray spectrometer system can be operated in Compton-suppression and pair-spectrometer modes simultaneously. The octal splitting of the main BGO improves efficient pair mode operation when coincidences between pairs of opposite segments and the HPGe detector are required separately. Gamma-gamma coincidence measurements will also be possible when the new multiparameter data acquisition system is completed. One of the main tasks at the new facility will be the accumulation of new spectroscopic data for detector calibration and standardisation, as well as for the construction of a more accurate prompt γ-ray library for the chemical elements. Various applications are planned, such as the determination of hydrogen in fullerenes and of toxic trace elements in environmental samples.

A new method for isomer lifetime measurement

We report on the application of a new multi-parameter data acquisition system to lifetime measurement of isomers in nuclear cascades. Decay curves obtained with the new system are largely free of distortion that are often present in results obtained by conventional methods. Minimal electronics are required and data acquisition times are much shorter with the new method, especially for isomers with longer lifetimes. Virtues of this method are demonstrated by studying the decay of the 9 μs isomer of 67Zn at 93-keV excitation energy.

Recoil selection by pulse shape discrimination in elastic recoil detection analysis with α-particles (α-ERDA)

In elastic recoil detection analysis (ERDA) with α-particles, recoils can be separated from scattered projectiles by using detectors with a thin depletion layer and a pulse shape discrimination (PSD) circuit [S.S. Klein and H.A. Rijken, Nucl. Instr. and Meth. B 66 (1992) 393]. Improved performance is obtained with a multi-parameter data acquisition system; recoil events are more easily and accurately selected and sensitivity is improved by a factor of 5 to 1 × 10 14 at/cm 2 for oxygen on amorphous silicon. The typical surface depth resolution is 10 nm. Two alternative PSD circuits are proposed neither of them using fast electronics. Examples are given of profiling carbon and oxygen in thin films of Si, C and SiO x N y .