Completely automated measurement facility (PAVICOM) for track-detector data processing

The review of technical possibility and investigations, which are performed at the Completely Automatic Measurement Facility (Russian sounds as PAVICOM), is presented. A very efficient Completely Automated Measuring Facility (PAVICOM) for track-detector data processing in the field of nuclear and high-energy particle physics has been constructed in the Lebedev Physical Institute. PAVICOM is widely used in Russia for experimental data treatment of track detectors (emulsion trackers, solid trackers) in high and low energy physics, cosmic ray physics, etc. The PAVICOM provides the essential improving the efficiency of experimental studies. In contrast to semi-automated microscopes widely used until now, the PAVICOM is capable of performing completely automated measurements and analysis of charged-particle tracks in nuclear emulsions and track detectors without employing hard visual work, In this case, track images are recorded by CCD-cameras and then are digitized and converted into files. Thus, automated measurements and online analysis accelerate the experimental-data processing by approximately thousand times. Completely automatic devices similar to PAVICOM came into operation in scientific centers of Japan, Italy, CERN, and some other countries. In Russia, the PAVICOM is the only facility of such a type. Its possibilities are so wide that satisfy not only needs of investigations being performed in LPI but are also used by other Russian laboratories and Institutes. Thus, PAVICOM actually plays the role of multipurpose user center.© (2005) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.