Computer automated data acquisition and control for measurement of scintillation materials and scintillating fibers

Abstract

11. TESTING PROCEDURES Scintillation materials, and scintillating fibers are being developed for potential use as tracking detectors at the SSC (Superconducting Super Collider). These fibers will need high scintillation efficiency, short decay time constants, and good transmission characteristics. This paper will discuss the combined use of the Apple Macintosh family of microcomputers and custom built and commercially available hardware and software used at Notre Dame to aid in determining suitable materials and production characteristics for long scintillating fibers or capillaries. This system includes the use of a Hitachi model F-2000 Fluorescence Spectrophotometer, LeCroy model 3001 qVt multichannel analyzer, LeCroy 8901A CAMAC to GPIB (General Purpose Interface Bus) interface, LeCroy 4604 scaler, and a Centent CN0170 Micro-Stepping motor controller. The software for the system is written primarily in Microsoft QuickBASIC, and will be discussed in detail. The potential use of a DigiKrom 240 monochromator for understanding attenuation as a function of wavelength and for reflection coefficient measurements will also be discussed.