The OctoPAES board for the validation of KM3NeT data acquisition system

TL;DR

This paper presents the OctoPAES board and a comprehensive test-bench setup for validating and optimizing the KM3NeT data acquisition system, including simulation of signals and performance testing under realistic conditions.

Contribution

Introduction of the OctoPAES electronic board and a full test framework for simulating signals and validating the KM3NeT data acquisition system.

Findings

OctoPAES emulates optical and acoustic signals realistically.

The test-bench effectively validates system performance.

The setup enables calibration and extreme condition testing.

Abstract

A test-bench has been set up at the INFN Sezione di Bologna to optimise key elements of the KM3NeT data acquisition system. A complete framework has been built to simulate a full detection unit and test the optical network, time synchronisation, and on-shore computing resources. A fundamental tool in the test-setup is a customized electronic board: "the OctoPAES". Based on an Altera MAX10 CPLD, it is designed to emulate in a realistic way the optical and acoustic signals recorded by the underwater detectors. They allow to test in extreme conditions the acquisition system and validate its performance with realistic data. If properly configured, the optical data provided by the OctoPAES can be combined to emulate the signals of a through-going muon or other calibration events. In this contribution the OctoPAES boards and some of their use cases at the test-bench are presented.