Instrumentation for high‐energy research

JUL 01, 1966

Automated measuring of particle events is growing in popularity. Film from visual detectors, such as bubble chambers, can be scanned for events and then measured—all automatically. Detectors that do not require film storage can feed data directly to computers for processing. But the most exciting development in high‐energy experiments has been the employment of the computer as an active part of the experimental apparatus.

DOI: 10.1063/1.3048393

George W. Tautfest

IN THE HIGH‐ENERGY physics laboratory the most remarkable development that has occurred in the last five years has been the introduction of the digital computer as an active part of the experimental apparatus. This development has been due chiefly to the increased number and complexity of detection elements in a typical high‐energy experiment and the dramatic decrease in cost of computing equipment. The point here is not the increased use of a computer per se to do numerical calculations in analysis of raw experimental data but its use “on line” as an intrinsic element in a closed control loop to modify the experiment while it is in progress.

References

1. A. Prodell, Bull. Am. Phys. Soc. 10, 445 (1965).https://doi.org/BAPSA6
2. A. I. Alikhanyan, T. L. Asatiani, E. M. Matevosian, A. A. Nazaryan, R. O. Sharkatunian, Phys. Letters 7, 272 (1963).https://doi.org/PHLTAM
3. K. Strauch, Innovations in Visual spark chambers techniques. IEEE Trans. on Nucl. Sci. NS‐12, no. 4, 1 (1965).https://doi.org/IETNAE
4. J. P. Garron, D. Grossman, K. Strauch, Rev. Sci. Instr. 36, 264 (1965).https://doi.org/RSINAK
5. R. L. McIlwain, SMP and Frankenstein on line, IEEE Trans. on Nucl. Sci. NS‐12, no. 4, 130 (1965).https://doi.org/IETNAE
6. P. V. C. Hough, B. W. Powell, Nuovo Cimento 18, 1184 (1960).https://doi.org/NUCIAD
7. I. Pless, PEPR system, IEEE Trans. on Nucl. Sci. NS‐12, no. 4, 279 (1965).https://doi.org/IETNAE
8. Proceedings of Informal Meeting on Filmless Spark Chamber Techniques and Associated Computer Use, CERN 64‐30 (1964).
9. V. Perez‐Mendez, Review of filmless spark chamber techniques: acoustic and vidicon, IEEE Trans. on Nucl. Sci. NS‐12, no 4, 13 (1965).https://doi.org/IETNAE
10. D. Dickinson, J. Holland, V. Perez‐Mendez, Bull. Am. Phys. Soc. 9, 716 (1964).https://doi.org/BAPSA6
11. J. Fischer, Digitized printed discharge planes and their operation at rapid rates, IEEE Trans. on Nucl. Sci. NS‐12, no. 4, 37 (1965).https://doi.org/IETNAE
12. G. Giannelli, in Proceedings of Informal Meeting on Filmless Spark Chamber Techniques and Associated Computer Use, CERN 64‐30, 325 (1964).
13. V. Perez‐MendezJ. M. Pfab, Nucl. Instr. and Methods 33, 141 (1965).https://doi.org/NUIMAL
14. S. J. Lindenbaum et al., Nucl. Instr. and Methods 20, 297 (1963); https://doi.org/NUIMAL
S. J. Lindenbaum, PHYSICS TODAY 18, no. 4, 19 (1965).https://doi.org/PHTOAD
15. E. Bleser et al., A scattering experiment using digitized discharge planes, IEEE Trans. on Nucl. Sci. NS‐12, no. 4, 227 (1965).https://doi.org/IETNAE
16. A. E. Brenner, Time‐shared multiexperiment use of a small computer, IEEE Trans. on Nucl. Sci. NS‐12, no. 4, 241 (1965).https://doi.org/IETNAE
17. R. H. Miller, On‐line data analysis, IEEE Trans. on Nucl. Sci. NS‐12, no. 4, 97 (1965).https://doi.org/IETNAE

More about the Authors

George W. Tautfest. Purdue University.