Data Acquisition and Processing Systems

Abstract

A data acquisition system is required to interpret the electrical signals produced by radiation detectors when a gamma ray, neutron or other radiation type interacts with it. The data acquisition system can take on many forms to match the wide variety of radiation detector types available and the different ways in which the signals from these detectors can be processed to give information on the detected radiation. First presented is a detailed overview of a variety of analog data acquisition topologies ranging from simple radiation event counters through to pulse shape discrimination. A comparison is then made with the digital counterparts of these data acquisition topologies, highlighting the relative merits and shortcomings of both analog and digital implementations. Next, the important factors relating to how data is processed, stored and transferred through different stages of a data acquisition chain is discussed and suggestions given on how to avoid bottle-necks and ensure balanced data flow throughout the system. Also discussed are the key challenges associated with the design and configuration of data acquisition systems for active interrogation (AI) environments such as dealing with the high event rates, capturing the time development of active radiation signatures, and techniques for working with pulsed interrogating sources.