The Nuclear Physics Group's team of computer software and electronics engineers develops and gives advice on data acquisition and electronics systems in support of the UK nuclear physics experimental programmes.
The NPG has many years experience in the design of Nuclear Physics experimental systems for a wide range of detector types and sizes.
The group's expertise is founded on whole-system design from detector through front-end electronics and mechanics to data acquisition and control. Our close links with experienced physicists, software and mechanical engineers in the NPG are the key to our system design capability.
The NPG has led and co-ordinated the development of a highly modular, and evolving, data acquisition system now known as MIDAS (link opens in a new window) (Multi-Instance Data Acquisition System) using state of the art software techniques.
This software system and its graphical user interface has been selected for several projects and laboratories. The electronics used by these project can only be controlled and adjusted via the computer interface which is available through this easy to use and comprehensive interface.
MIDAS is also used as a basis for several other data acquisition systems now in use by the nuclear physics community. In addition it was used by the MEIS (link opens in a new window) facility at Daresbury.
The NPG can provide:
We also give general technical advice and support in the provision and operation of computing facilities and collaborate in the provision of data analysis programs for the user community.
