The FASTBUS readout system for the Aleph time projection chamber

The readout system for the Aleph central tracking detector, a large time projection chamber (TPC), consists of more than 100 FASTBUS crates with approximately 1000 FASTBUS modules. The detector and its associated electronics are briefly presented, followed by a more detailed description of the readout and control system. The discussion covers the sector readout, electronics calibration, front-end data acquisition, data pipelining, and service request handling. Experiences with the system are discussed. >