Design for real-time data acquisition based on streaming technology

For the LHD project a long-pulse plasma experiment of 1-h duration is planned. In this quasi steady-state operation, the data acquisition system will be required to continuously transfer the diagnostic data from the digitizer front-end and display them in real-time. The CompactPCI standard is used to replace the conventional CAMAC digitizers in LHD, because it provides good functionality for real-time data streaming and also a connectivity with modem PC technology. The digitizer scheme, interface to the host computer, adoption of data compression, and downstream applications are discussed in detail to design and implement this new real-time data streaming system for LHD plasma diagnostics. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science BN. All rights reserved.