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AGATA DAQ-box: a unified data acquisition system for different experimental conditions

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Abstract

The AGATA tracking detector array represents a significant improvement over previous Compton suppressed arrays. The construction of AGATA led to numerous technological breakthroughs in order to meet the requirements and the challenges of building a mobile detector across Europe. This paper focuses on the design and implementation of the data acquisition system responsible of the readout and control of the germanium detectors of AGATA. Our system is highly versatile, capable of instrumenting AGATA and seamlessly adapting it to various configurations with a wide range of ancillary detectors and/or spectrometers. It consists of three main components: an autonomous and independent infrastructure, a dedicated application core ensuring overall consistency, and a high-performance software package providing a fully integrated data flow management including the setting-up, the supervision and the slow control of the instrument. In this paper, we present a comprehensive analysis of the system’s design and performance, particularly under high-counting rate conditions.

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Data availability statement

This manuscript has no associated data or the data will not be deposited. [Authors’ comment: This manuscript describes instrumental developments and access to data as used for the software performance evaluation is available on request.]

Notes

  1. NARVAL stands for Nouvelle Aquisition temps-Reel Version Avec Linux meaning New Aquisition in Real time Version Alongside Linux.

  2. During the Local Level Processing stage, each event occupies 7.6 kBytes. This can be calculated by multiplying the number of channels (38) by the output size per channel (200 Bytes).

  3. Note that when possible, e.g for low multiplicity \(\gamma \)-rays – with AGATA triggered by an ancillary detector resulting in a typical rate of \(\sim \) 100 Hz/crystal, the traces from the FEE can be stored hence contributing to a significant amount of data of \(\sim \) 3 TB/day. However, when dealing with high spin physics that generates high multiplicity \(\gamma \)-rays, this approach becomes impractical or even unattainable.

  4. The replay process allows the users to optimize the post-PSA or tracking or to use new PSA algorithms that are being developed in the collaboration when the traces are stored.

  5. The current management of incoming and outgoing bandwidth involves the implementation of four distinct queues, each with a maximum limit of 300 MB/s. These queues operate in parallel and are dynamically managed to prioritize low latency, particularly during the execution of concurrent large data transfers.

  6. ATCA stands for AGATA Telecommunications Computing Architecture board, which refers to the phase 1 electronic boards that are no longer in use.

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Acknowledgements

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Dino Bazzacco for his outstanding contribution to AGATA, particularly in the development of the AGATA DAQ-box. His invaluable guidance during the system upgrade, performance measurements, and data acquisition played a vital role in the success of AGATA operations. We also acknowledge the valuable feedback and contributions from the users during the physics campaigns, which helped us make necessary improvements and achieve a robust DAQ-box. Furthermore, we express our gratitude to the AGATA collaboration for their scientific support of this manuscript. This work was made possible by the support of the French National Center of Research, CNRS, France.

Author information

Author notes

  1. D. Ralet

    Present address: MIRION technologies, Lingolsheim, France

  2. Y. Aubert: Deceased.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. IJCLab, IN2P3-CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, bat 104-108, Orsay Campus, 91405, Orsay, France

    A. Korichi, N. Dosme, E. Legay, Y. Aubert, S. Elloumi, P. Gauron, X. Grave, J. Jacob, V. Lafage, P. Le Jeannic, J. Ljungvall, R. Molini, G. Philippon, D. Ralet & M. Taurigna-Quere

  2. GANIL, CEA/DRF-CNRS/IN2P3, BP 55027, 14076, Caen Cedex 5, France

    E. Clément, G. Lalaire, C. Maugeais, C. Michelagnoli, D. Ralet & F. Saillant

  3. IP2I, IN2P3-CNRS, Universié Lyon 1, Lyon, France

    O. Stézowski & J. Dudouet

  4. LNL, INFN-Legnaro, Legnaro, Italy

    A. Goasduff, M. Gulmini, M. Roetta & N. Toniolo

  5. Institut Laue-Langevin, B.P. 156, 38042, Grenoble Cedex 9, France

    C. Michelagnoli

  6. GSI, Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany

    S. Pietri & D. Ralet

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  1. A. Korichi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Korichi.

Additional information

Communicated by Nicolas Alamanos.

X. Grave: The author is on leave from IJCLab-CNRS

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Korichi, A., Clément, E., Dosme, N. et al. AGATA DAQ-box: a unified data acquisition system for different experimental conditions. Eur. Phys. J. A 59, 211 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1140/epja/s10050-023-01091-8

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