Design Considerations for a Multiprocessor Based Data Acquisition System

The rapid advance of digital technology has provided the systems designer with many new design options. Hardware is no longer the controlling expense. Complex operating systems provide the flexibility and development tools needed by software designers, but restrict throughput. Multiprocessor based systems can be used to "front-end" high-throughput applications while maintaining the many advantages offered by multitasking operating systems. The design of a high-throughput data acquisition system for application in low energy nuclear physics is considered.