Trigger and data acquisition systems

Abstract

The quantities measured by detectors are generally analogue signals or rates which are, with few exemptions, available in electronic form and which one usually wants to further process with computers. This chapter describes the interfaces between the detector-near electronics (see chapter 17) and a computer or a computer system. In order to limit the transfer rates of the interfaces and the capacities of storage media to the necessary, the interesting events are usually selected by triggers. Data acquisition and triggering are therefore closely connected and have to be coordinated. The capabilities of data acquisition and processing have grown with high speed and will presumably further grow following the developments in computers, networks and consumer electronics. In the framework of this book only a limited inside into these developments can be given.