FPGA-Based Instrumentation for the Fermilab Antiproton Source

We have designed and built low-cost, low-power, Ethernet-based circuit boards to apply DSP techniques to several instrumentation updates in the Fermilab Antiproton Source. Commodity integrated circuits such as direct digital synthesizers, D/A and A/D converters, and quadrature demodulators enable digital manipulation of RF waveforms. A low cost FPGA implements a variety of signal processing algorithms in a manner that is easily adapted to new applications. An embedded microcontroller provides FPGA configuration, control of data acquisition, and command-line interface. A small commercial daughter board provides an Ethernet-based TCP/IP interface between the microcontroller and the Fermilab accelerator control network. The boards are packaged as standard NIM modules. Applications include Low Level RF control for the Debuncher, readout of transfer-line Beam Position Monitors, and narrow-band spectral analysis of diagnostic signals from Schottky pickups.