A real-time digital control, data acquisition and analysis system for the DIII-D multipulse Thomson scattering diagnostic

A VME-based real-time computer systems for laser control, data acquisition and analysis for the DIII-D multipulse Thomson scattering diagnostic is described. The laser control task requires precise timing of up to 8 Nd:YAG lasers, each with an average firing rate of 20 Hz. A cpu module in real-time multiprocessing computer system will operate the lasers with evenly staggered laser pulses or in a ''burst mode'', where all available (fully charged) lasers can be fired at 50--100 μsec intervals upon receipt of an external event trigger signal. One of more cpu modules, along with a LeCroy FERA (Fast Encoding and Readout ADC) system, will perform real-time data acquisition and analysis. Partial electron temperature and density profiles will be available for plasma feedback control within 1 msec following each laser pulse. The VME-based computer system consists of 2 or more target processor modules (25 MHz Motorola 68030) running the VMEexec real-time operating system connected to a Unix based host system (also a 68030). All real-time software is fully interrupt driven to maximize system efficiency. Operator interaction and (non real-time) data analysis takes place on a MicroVAX 3400 connected via DECnet. 17 refs., 1 fig