Development of an integrated data acquisition and handling system based on digital time series analysis for the measurement of plasma fluctuations

The nonlinear characteristics of data obtained by many plasma diagnostic systems requires the power of modem computers for on-line data processing and reduction. The objective of this work is to develop an integrated data acquisition and handling system based on digital time series analysis techniques. These techniques make it possible to investigate the nature of plasma fluctuations and the physical processes which give rise to them. The approach is to digitize the data,and to generate various spectra by means of Fast Fourier Transforms (FFT). Of particular interest is the computer generated auto-power spectrum, cross-power spectrum, phase spectrum, and squared coherency spectrum. Software programs based on those developed by Jae. Y. Hong at the University of Texas are utilized for these spectra. The LeCroy 3500-SA signal analyzer and VAX 11/780 are used as the data handling and reduction system in this work. In this report, the software required to link these two systems will be described.