FSUDAQ -- A general purpose GUI data acquisition program for the CAEN x725, x730, x740 digitizers

TL;DR

FSUDAQ is a versatile GUI software for CAEN digitizers that offers high throughput, real-time analysis, and customization, enhancing data acquisition efficiency in nuclear physics experiments.

Contribution

It introduces a multi-threaded, user-friendly data acquisition program with advanced real-time analysis and customizable features for CAEN x725, x730, and x740 digitizers.

Findings

Handles up to 500k triggers/sec per channel

Achieves data rates of 65 MB/s per optical fiber

Successfully tested in multiple physics experiments

Abstract

FSUDAQ is a versatile, multi-threaded, lightweight data acquisition software with a graphical user interface, designed to fully utilize the capabilities of first-generation CAEN x725, x730, and x740 series digitizers equipped with various Digital Pulse Processing (DPP) firmware, including Pulse-Height Analysis (PHA), Pulse-Shape Discrimination (PSD), and Charge-Digital Conversion (QDC). It emphasizes user-friendliness, stability, scalability, high throughput, and low latency. The software includes features such as an online waveform scope, scalar panel, and real-time single spectrum display for each input channel, along with an online event builder and analyzer capable of generating 1D and 2D histograms and applying graphical cuts. Users can also create and integrate custom online analyzers to meet specific experimental requirements. FSUDAQ has been successfully tested at the John D. Fox Laboratory at FSU, including with the Encore, ANASEN, and Super-Enge Split-Pole Spectrograph experiments. In terms of performance, FSUDAQ can handle up to approximately 500k triggers per second per channel without waveform recording, or data rates of around 65 MB/s per optical fiber, with or without waveform recording.