Low Cost Data Acquisition Synchronization for Nuclear Physics Applications

The DOE Office of Nuclear Physics (NP) seeks innovations that will advance our nation’s capability to perform nuclear physics research, and more specifically to improve DOE Nuclear Physics (NP) Facilities and the wider NP community experimental programs. For example, data acquisition (DAQ) for the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB), currently under construction, will require considerable speed and flexibility in collecting data from its detectors. The fundamental requirement for success of such DAQ systems is that the data from each detector element be labeled with a precisely synchronized time stamps before transmission on the network. We are proposing two complementary trigger, time stamp, and clock synchronization solutions. The first innovation will enable extension and expansion of the Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) digital DAQ system, which was instrumental to the research with highly segmented GRETINA and Digital Gammasphere (DGS). This solution will have application at FRIB. The second innovation will enable precise, low-cost time stamping and time-correlated measurements in nuclear physics applications. We will develop hardware interface supporting the Time and Trigger Control Link (TTCL) developed and implemented at ANL ATLAS facility. The protocol will enable seamless integration of SkuTek modules into the ANL ATLAS. We will equip our modules with fast streaming gigabit Ethernet interfaces. We will also develop the light weight time stamping and time synchronization using Global Positioning System. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: Future applications will include nuclear physics, high energy physics, nuclear astrophysics, homeland security, and education. Public will benefit from our electronics helping fundamental research conducted at the ANL and future FRIB. The light weight timing solutions and protocols developed under this grant will find applications in university - based laboratories and in education.