Fast and compact data acquisition for gas-filled detectors with delay line

This article describes the functionality, implementation and performance of a PCI data acquisition board that can be used in conjunction with gas-filled detectors with delay line readout. The board combines a large on-board 256-MByte histogramming memory with a maximum 10-MHz count rate in continuous operation and integrates the time frame generation, histogram building and buffering functionalities in a single PCI board, resulting in a fast, compact and cost-effective data acquisition solution for the Spanish beamline BM16 at ESRF.