Real-Time Data Processing for X-Ray Spectroscopy

Over the last decade, the field of x-ray calorimeters has matured to the point where calorimeter instruments are becoming more common, requiring the development of turnkey systems that are easy to use for non-expert operators. In addition, the use of large arrays in spaceflight instruments requires a significant reduction in data density in order to remain compatible with highly restricted telemetry bandwidths. As calorimeter instruments mature and find wider use outside of the laboratory, the ability to perform signal analysis and data reduction on the raw data stream in real-time has gone from a convenience to a necessity. We will report on the adaptation of the Digital Signal Processor (DSP) based analysis electronics originally developed for the 32 channel Astro-E and Astro-E2 satellite missions to a full software version implemented with off-the-shelf hardware. This implementation requires a minimum of human intervention and is capable of real-time data analysis of x-ray events on many channels simultaneously, including triggering, optimal filtering and pulse height analysis. This suite has been successfully deployed in the XRS/EBIT and the EBIT/ECS experiments at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory and has been operational for over five years. We are currently scaling this system to much larger arrays as a test-bed for the XMS instrument on the International X-Ray Observatory (IXO) and for ground experiments such as the gamma-ray spectrometer at Los Alamos National Laboratory.