The new Digital Data Acquisition System for MoNA-LISA

The Modular Neutron Array (MoNA) and the Large multi-Institutional Scintillator Array (LISA) at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) are used to detect neutrons emitted during the decay of exotic nuclei near the neutron dripline. The arrays consist of 288 10cm x 10cm x 2m long plastic scintillation detectors coupled to photomultipliers at each end. The Time of Flight (TOF) of these neutrons determines the neutron energy, which is needed to find the decay energy of the exotic nuclei. A Digital Data Acquisition System (DDAS) based on the XIA PXI modules is being developed to read out and record the signals of the MoNA-LISA scintillation detectors. A 500 Mega Samples per Second (MSPS) PXI module was used to test the time and energy resolution as it compares to the existing analog DAQ setup.