High-performance Data Acquisition system for magnetic and electrical diagnostics in nuclear fusion research, developed for the RFX laboratory in Padua.
The system comprises 21 rack, each with with 144 fully synchronized channels, acquired in parallel at 1 MS/s per channel with real-time digital integration. Each channel features 20-bit galvanically isolated ADCs (1.5 kVrms AC, up to 2.5 kV transient), ensuring high dynamic range, noise immunity, and safe operation in high-energy environments.
Hardware timing and synchronization are managed by FPGA, with support for optical/electrical clock and trigger distribution and controlled channel skew. The integrated FPGA + CPU controller enables real-time acquisition, high-speed Ethernet streaming, and local numerical post-processing.
A modular and deterministic DAQ platform designed for plasma physics experiments and high-precision scientific measurements.
Magnetic diagnostics for nuclear fusion experiments
Measurement of time-varying magnetic fields and plasma currents
Acquisition of high-dynamic electrical signals in harsh EMI environments
Tokamak, stellarator, and plasma physics test facilities
Synchronized multi-channel monitoring in scientific experiments
Integration with control systems via real-time Ethernet streaming
Advanced research in energy, particle accelerators, and large experimental infrastructures
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of channels | 144 synchronized channels for each rack |
| Sampling rate | 1 MS/s per channel, parallel acquisition |
| ADC resolution | 20-bit per channel |
| Galvanic isolation | 1.5 kVrms AC, up to 2.5 kV transient |
| Digital integration | Real-time for magnetic and electrical measurements |