B-dot detector signal recording at the DARHT II accelerator

Diagnostic detectors such as B-dot and E-dot probes have been used in pulse power and accelerator applications for decades. The DARHT II Accelerator utilizes arrays of B-dot detectors as a means to determine beam current and position. Unique problems arise when using digital recording to capture these signal waveforms. Bit error and baseline reference stability due to noise in the recording devices limits the accuracy of the recorded waveform when dealing with fast rise time signals that have relatively long pulse widths. The methods used to record the B-dot data for the 2 microsecond duration beam current at DARHT II are detailed in this paper.