Construction of an Inexpensive Subnanosecond Fluoriheter Using a Microcomputer

Abstract

We describe a simple construction of a data acquisition system using an APPLE 11+ Microcomputer. The system uses a commercially available plug-1n Interface board containing an analog/digital converter, a digital/analog converter, and a user dedicated 6522 Versatile Interface Adaptor (VIA). The microcomputer controls the time base and digitizes the vertical output of a sampling oscilloscope through the Interface card. Software has been developed for the data acquisition and manipulation. The system was applied to the determination of subnanosecond fluorescence lifetimes. It 1s pointed out that the system can be very versatile as a data acquisition and manipulation system despite Its lower cost.