Reconfigurable timing unit for NSTX-U

Due to the longer pulse length of the NSTX-U device, a significant portion of the CAMAC equipment used for data acquisition and control will be supplanted with instrumentation and control (I&C) technologies such as CompactPCI and PXI Express. The Timing and Synchronization System (T&S) is used to synchronize data acquisition and control throughout the experimental complex. A non-CAMAC solution is needed to support the new and upgraded I&C systems for NSTX-U. An instrumentation-bus-agnostic, FPGA-based T&S system is under development. The primary component is the Reconfigurable Timing Unit (RTU). The RTU has been designed to be fully compatible with NTSX´s original T&S. The RTU is the 3rd NSTX-designed FPGA-based timing device. Unlike its predecessors, the RTU will rely on commercial products: LabVIEW software and sbRIO hardware, both from National Instruments. Our experience in product development, integration with the NSTX-U computing and control environment, and timing performance will be presented.