Compact Distributed Digitizers with Metrological Precision

Prototype distributed digitizers have been developed with metrological precision of the individual measurement nodes. A master controller aggregates the data of the nodes and performs all computational tasks. A crucial part of the system is the synchronization of the individual nodes at nanosecond level using white-rabbit technology. Fibre-optic communication is used to reduce interference and to obtain high isolation. When operated on battery power, this allows for special applications such as the measurement of currents in high-voltage lines. First results show that a phase difference between nodes of a few μrad can be achieved with a resolution of better than 0.1 μrad.