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The Pixie-4 is best operated through XIAs host
control software, the Pixie Viewer.
In the Viewer, users can set all parameters relevant to the data acquisition,
store them in settings files, and run the modules. Results can be displayed
from data files to provide instant feedback on the state of the experiment. The Pixie Viewer is based on IGOR PRO, distributed
by WaveMetrics. IGOR PRO is a program package for data display, analysis,
and experiment control. It has a rich graphical interface, is documented
well and easy to program. Users can easily add their own data analysis
to the data acquisition software that XIA supplies. Pixie-4 Data Acquisition Systems A basic data acquisition system can consist of a 6-slot CompactPCI crate, one Pixie module, a single board host computer, a preamplifier power supply and a high voltage module. The host computer is used to download software and settings to the Pixie module, start and stop runs, read out the data and write it to disk. This is a very compact standalone solution, for example for clover detectors. Instead of a single board computer residing in the CompactPCI crate, a regular desktop or laptop computer can act as a remote crate controller using a set of adapter cards with a high speed copper or fiber optic data link. Data readout speeds are equivalent for local and remote controllers. For bigger detector arrays, a larger PXI crate (up to 18 slots) can be used. One or more slots can be occupied by commercial, user-programmable DSP processor modules to process data for event reconstruction. High speed I/O modules can be added, either on the DSP modules or in a separate slot, for fast data readout from the Pixie front end electronics to external data processing computers. The preamplifier power supply developed by XIA also includes an external trigger option. This allows the distribution of clocks and triggers between the PXI backplane and external electronics. Besides the system clock, distributed signals can include an external veto, run start synchronization, event triggers and timing signals. |
| Inputs | Analog | Four preamplifier
inputs, jumper-selectable input impedance: |
| Digital | (TTL) Each module
has a single MMCX connector which can be programmed to be used for any
of the following functions: All clock, trigger and synchronization signals are bussed along the PXI backplane. For Gate and Sync, only one signal per backplane segment must be provided. A second MMCX connector can be used as output directly from the DSP in custom applications. |
| Data I/O | Interface | Compact PCI standard, 33 MHz, 32-bit |
| Data Transfer Rate | Memory readout to host: 109 MB/sec |
| Digital Controls | Gain | Coars gain from
0.97 to 11.3 in 64 steps |
| Threshold | Adjustable to 50% of the ADC input range | |
| Filtering | Peaking times 0.1 - 100 microseconds. Adjustable flat top to eliminate ballistic deficit effects. | |
| Pileup | Fast channel filter
time, pulse detection threshold, and fast channel pileup inspection test
limits may be set independently to achieve best results in every energy
regime. Minimum pulse-pair resolution of 53ns unless limited by signal risetime. |
|
| Data collection | MCA limits and number of bins, waveform lengths | |
| Data
Outputs: |
MCA | 1024 to 32,768 channels
(32 bits deep) per Pixie channel |
| List Mode | Time stamp, energy, optional waveforms for each event stored in 128k (32-bit) word buffer. | |
| Timing | Events are time stamped with 75MHz clock in list mode. | |
| Statistics | All values required for pileup correction are available: livetime, realtime, input events, output events. | |
| Diagnostics | ADC trace, baseline distribution, baseline history, FFT noise spectrum |
XIA Home > Products > DGF Products > DGF Pixie-4 Back to top of this page | Back to XIA home page. http://www.xia.com/DGF_Pixie-4.html, last updated
January 2006. |