Summary of control and data acquisition systems for NOVA experiments (invited)

Journal Article · Fri Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · Rev. Sci. Instrum.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1139155· OSTI ID:5564217

McCauley, E W; Campbell, E M; Auerbach, J M; Montgomery, D S; Martin, V A; Randolph, J E; Shaw, J G; Stewart, B L; Stone, G F

The NOVA laser has completed its first year of operation. During this period, emphasis has been placed on activation of the facility and of the numerous target and beam diagnostics. Two separate target chambers are in use. NOVA operation is separated into two broad functions: laser operations and experiments. The operations group provides the laser system control, operation, and data acquisition and the experiments group provides experiment definition, diagnostic instrumentation, and overall data processing. On the operations side, VAX 11/780 computers are used to set up diagnostic operating parameters and collect data recorded by the CAMAC and CCD modules. These data are delivered in files by electronic link to the Laser Experiments and Analysis Facility (LEAF) VAX 11/785 of the experiments group for processing. Film data are digitized at LEAF and the film data files are also processed on the LEAF VAX. The LEAF provides collection, processing, analysis, and archiving of the experimental data. The many applications software packages written for LEAF provide the experimental physicists and NOVA operations staff with programs and data bases for interpretation of experimental results. This software makes fundamental use of the ORACLE relational data base management system to both access the required data and archive the obtained results. Post-shot data processing produces sets of scalar values, x-italic, y-italic profiles and x-italic, y-italic, z-italic contour data. The scalar data are stored in the ORACLE DB; the more extensive results are stored in binary files on disk. All data forms are accessed by a comprehensive software system, the electronic SHOTBOOK, developed around the ORACLE DBMS.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 5564217
• Journal Information: Rev. Sci. Instrum.; (United States), Journal Name: Rev. Sci. Instrum.; (United States) Vol. 57:8; ISSN RSINA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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COMPUTERIZED CONTROL SYSTEMS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
DATA ACQUISITION
DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEMS
DATA ANALYSIS
DATA BASE MANAGEMENT
LAWRENCE LIVERMORE LABORATORY
MANAGEMENT
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NOVA FACILITY
OPERATION
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS