Streaming readout for next generation electron scattering experiment

TL;DR

This paper validates a streaming readout data acquisition system for high-intensity electron scattering experiments, demonstrating its effectiveness and advantages over traditional methods through on-field tests at Jefferson Lab.

Contribution

It introduces and validates a flexible, software-based streaming readout DAQ system that outperforms traditional trigger-based systems in real-time data processing.

Findings

SRO system performs as expected in complex experimental conditions.

SRO demonstrates superiority in real-time data analysis and reconstruction.

Validation through on-beam tests confirms its effectiveness.

Abstract

Current and future experiments at the high intensity frontier are expected to produce an enormous amount of data that needs to be collected and stored for offline analysis. Thanks to the continuous progress in computing and networking technology, it is now possible to replace the standard `triggered' data acquisition systems with a new, simplified and outperforming scheme. `Streaming readout' (SRO) DAQ aims to replace the hardware-based trigger with a much more powerful and flexible software-based one, that considers the whole detector information for efficient real-time data tagging and selection. Considering the crucial role of DAQ in an experiment, validation with on-field tests is required to demonstrate SRO performance. In this paper we report results of the on-beam validation of the Jefferson Lab SRO framework. We exposed different detectors (PbWO-based electromagnetic calorimeters and a plastic scintillator hodoscope) to the Hall-D electron-positron secondary beam and to the Hall-B production electron beam, with increasingly complex experimental conditions. By comparing the data collected with the SRO system against the traditional DAQ, we demonstrate that the SRO performs as expected. Furthermore, we provide evidence of its superiority in implementing sophisticated AI-supported algorithms for real-time data analysis and reconstruction.