2005/07/02 by Gary S. Varner, G. Varner, Laine Murakami +5 · 6 citations
Engineering · Environmental Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena #Bandwidth (computing) #Computer hardware #Computer network #Computer science #Electrical engineering #Electronic engineering #Embedded system #Engineering #Ethernet #Instrumentation (computer programming) #Network packet #Radio Astronomy Observations and Technology #Scalability #Soil Moisture and Remote Sensing #Telecommunications #physics.ins-det
paper · pdf · doi:10.1016/j.nima.2005.08.069
published in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A Accelerators Spectrometers Detectors and Associated Equipment 554(1-3), 437-443 (Elsevier BV) · 8 pages, to be submitted to NIM A
arxiv created 2005/07/02 · openalex publication_date 2005/09/03 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
An instrumentation prototype for acquiring high-speed transient data from an array of high bandwidth antennas is presented. Multi-kilometer cable runs complicate acquisition of such large bandwidth radio signals from an extensive antenna array. Solutions using analog fiber optic links are being explored, though are very expensive. We propose an inexpensive solution that allows for individual operation of each antenna element, operating at potentially high local self-trigger rates. Digitized data packets are transmitted to the surface via commercially available Giga-bit Ethernet hardware. Events are then reconstructed on a computer farm by sorting the received packets using standard networking gear, eliminating the need for custom, very high-speed trigger hardware. Such a system is completely scalable and leverages the hugh capital investment made by the telecommunications industry. Test results from a demonstration prototype are presented.