July Newsletter
Welcome to the First Edition of SkuTek News! 🌐 July 2025 We're excited to introduce to you our first monthly newsletter where we share technical insights, latest developments and our new tools for Digital Data Acquisition. Whether you're at a university or national lab, we're here to support you throughout the entire data acquisition chain. About SkuTek Instrumentation Where Science Meets Industry At SkuTek Instrumentation, we're more than an equipment company. We're your scientific partners in advancing the frontiers of physics research. We are a small woman-owned American company founded and led by former scientists. We understand the unique challenges of modern physics research because we've lived them. Our team combines expertise in nuclear physics, particle astrophysics, and digital signal processing with hands-on experience from major national laboratory projects. This unique perspective allows us to develop solutions that don't just meet specifications – they solve real research problems. Proven Track Record in World-Class Science Our technology powers some of the most ambitious physics experiments on Earth: LUX-ZEPLIN Dark Matter Experiment: 1,500+ channels powering the world's largest dark matter search, Publication: The Data Acquisition System of the LZ Dark Matter Detector: FADR National Laboratory Deployments: Active installations at SURF, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, and FRIB. DOE Office of Science Funding: Our technology development is supported by federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants awarded by the DOE Office of Science, Nuclear Physics.. Zero Failures: Over 5 years of continuous operation in the demanding underground environment of LUX-ZEPLIN with no reported failures. Global Deployments: Our instruments are used at laboratories spanning the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific research facilities. Complete Data Acquisition Solutions We provide the entire data acquisition chain – from digitizers, firmware pulse processing, and data management for scientific applications big or small. Our scalable platform grows with your research: Tabletop Systems: 2-10 channels for student training and small experiments.Research Platforms: 32-320+ channels for facility-scale installations.Custom Solutions: Purpose-built hardware engineering for specialized research requirements Scientific Heritage Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: From 1950s Oscilloscopes to Modern DAQ Our company follows the footsteps laid down by previous generations of scientists and engineers. Our 40-channel instrument brings back memories of a 50 channel oscilloscope for Dr. Archie Tunturi at the University of Oregon medical school. In early 1950's Dr. Tunturi initiated an oscilloscope that would display 50 waveforms simultaneously which could be photographed on a single negative. The result was the instrument you see in the series of photographs provided by the Museum of Vintage Tektronix Equipment. Our 40-channel Digital Acquision System can be seen as a distant successor of Dr. Tunturi's instrument, but of a much smaller size and cost. Read More about Dr. Tunturi’s Design Here Technology Update SkuTek Launches Open-Source Control Library We're excited to announce the beta release of SkuTek Utilities – a free, open-source Python library that puts complete control of your SkuTek hardware at your fingertips. Key Features: Remote hardware control via REST API from any lab computer Python integration for seamless data analysis workflows Pip installable for maximum portability across lab environments Student-friendly design ideal for teaching experimental automation Perfect for Research & Education: SkuTek Utilities enables integration of data collection and analysis into single Python scripts, making it ideal for automated workflows and easy-to-port experiments. The library is specifically designed with students in mind – perfect for distributing Jupyter Notebooks that teach experimental automation alongside data analysis. Get Started Today: The library is completely free and open-source, with 4 example experiments already published and more coming soon. Python was chosen due to its prevalence in research and education communities. Learn more here: SkuTek Utilities (Skutils) Shipment of Firebird, 40 Channel DAQ We're pleased to announce the successful shipment of a 40-channel Digital Data Acquisition system to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The instrument can simultaneously digitize forty signals with 14 bit precision (16,384 voltage levels) and process the data with embedded 1 GHz local processor running Linux. Firebird, our 40-Channel DAQ that can be easily integrated with existing VME crates Product Spotlight Skutek Digitizers The same technology powering the world's largest dark matter search (LUX-Zeplin, 1500+ channels) is available for your research – from 2-channel bench-top to 320+ channel facility-scale systems, we now support automatic linearity calibration and high-speed 10 GBps streaming! Our complete digitizer portfolio continues to prove its versatility across the full spectrum of physics research, from undergraduate education to world-record experiments. Complete Range: FemtoDAQ Vireo: 2-channel bench-top digitizer with built-in SiPM bias supply. Perfect for student training and small experiments. FemtoDAQ Kingfisher: 10-channel bench-top digitizer with built-in SiPM bias supply for mid-scale research. Chickadee-32: 32-channel digitizer with embedded Linux and streaming events at 1G in a variety of formats. Chickadee-32 RTM: Rear Transition Module adds 10G event streaming and additional I/O Customized DAQ solutions: Systems that integrate seamlessly with your Research & Applications. Capabilities: 14-bit ADCs at 100 MHz across all platforms Universal detector support from HPGe precision to plastic scintillators Real-time digital pulse processing with FPGA-based algorithms Read more about our Digitizers on the web: Digitizers Technology focus: Rear Transition Module (RTM) with 10G Ethernet The RTM transforms your SkuTek digitizers from 1 Gbps to 10 Gbps streaming – a 10x performance increase. Each digitizer can now stream up to 1 gigabyte per second, eliminating data bottlenecks that limit experimental throughput. Seamless Integration: VME64x with standard back cage installation High performance connection with the digitizer via 96-pin P0 connector Works with existing CHK-32 SkuTek digitizers Parallel streaming maintains independent data paths from each digitizer Real-World Impact:Large-scale experiments with hundreds of channels can achieve high data rates. Future-Proof Investment:As accelerator facilities increase beam intensities and detector
December Newsletter
Welcome to SkuTek DAQ news! January 2026 edition News editors: Ujval Madhu, Edmond Tan, Research Engineers We wish you a prosperous New Year 2026! In this issue, we present our research-grade digitizers which deliver high performance spectroscopy, sub‑ns timing, and easy scaling to 1000+ channels. We also describe a Compton coincidence experiment performed with our table top unit. Product spotlight FemtoDAQ Vireo 2-channel digitizer Modern FPGA based digitization for bench-top experimentation The FemtoDAQ Vireo is an affordable 2-channel table-top digitizer. It works without external NIM electronics. FemtoDAQ Vireo 2-channel digitizer. Key features: 2 Channels, 14 bits @ 100 MHz ADC per channel FPGA based real-time pulse processing implements timing filters, discriminators, coincidence logic and scalers. Can process signals from scintillators, SiPMs, and virtually any other detector. Live histograms, 2D correlation plots, and waveforms directly in the browser. Integrated SiPM bias supply from 11 to 56 volts. Customizable file output formats. Open-source Python and C libraries. External trigger and clock synchronization. Applications: • Gamma-ray spectroscopy • Coincidence measurements • Time-of-flight experiments • Scintillator characterization • Educational labs • Radiation monitoring Download Vireo datasheet Chickadee 32-channel digitizer Scalable high-performance digitization The Chickadee DAQ System can be scaled from 32 channels to thousands providing high speed 1G readout from each board. 10G is available as an option. Scalable architecture with 32 channels per module, 14‑bit resolution at 100 MHz sampling. Timestamp and triggers can be synchronized across multiple units. Sub-nanosecond time resolution can be achieved with fast signals thanks to low noise and excellent pulse shape response.The system supports a wide range of detectors, HPGe, liquid noble gas arrays, Si detectors. SkuTek Chickadee 32-Channel Digitizer. Real time data acquisition demonstration at APS DNP conference, Fall 2025. FPGA-powered signal processing: Real-time pulse height, shape analysis, timestamp extraction, and configurable trigger logic with multiplicity counting. High-speed triggered and triggerless: 1 Gbps streaming per module (default) and optional 10 Gbps streaming, with both triggered and triggerless operation. Open software ecosystem: Open-source Python/C libraries, GRETA ‑ compatible event format, Debian Linux for control and monitoring over network. Clock and channel synchronization: Facility clock integration, and VME backplane trigger distribution. Timestamps can be synchronized with other facility electronics. VME module format: VME card format simplifies system building and delivers power but does not rely on the VME data plane. Each module can operate in parallel with Ethernet readout and control. Download CHK datasheet Example table-top experiment Demonstrating Compton scattering through coincidence detection Developed for student labs and classrooms We demonstrate Compton scattering with coincidence measurement using the Vireo’s coincidence firmware. Experiment 1: 180° Compton back scattering We used two NaI(Tl) detectors positioned at 180°, with signals processed by Vireo. We applied a coincidence window of 100ns between both the channels replacing traditional NIM electronics. The histogram and the 2D correlation plot were collected using a 137Cs source. The complete experimental setup configured for Compton back scattering at 180°. The 137Cs 1D histograms from both channels were dominated by the Compton edge and the Compton backscatter peaks due to 662 keV gamma ray scattering, visible in both channels due to the symmetric detector setup. The “singles” peaks at 32 keV and 662 keV were due to random coincidences. 2D correlation plot of pulse heights with coincidence and 180° geometry. The red spots indicate the true coincidence between the backscatter photon from the one detector and the Compton edge in the other detector.The plot is symmetric due to the symmetry of the detector setup. Experiment 2: 90° scattering angle In the next step, we positioned the detector B at the right angle with respect to the detector A and the source. We used a lead shield to prevent the direct gammas from entering the detector B. In this geometry, we observed Compton scattering of the gamma ray from detector A to detector B at 90°. The 2D correlation plot reflected the new scattering angle. 2D correlation plot (90° geometry). The Compton edge and backscatter components merge into a single anti-diagonal band. These results demonstrate Vireo’s ability to collect coincidence events without using external NIM electronics. Details are available upon request. The relevance for education Our results demonstrate how SkuTek’s digital DAQ can be used to teach students modern digital techniques such as: Live histogram and 2D correlation display for immediate feedback. Built-in pulse processing without external analog electronics. Python/C scripting will allow students to easily modify examples and develop their own creative experiments and solutions. Connecting with the Nuclear Physics community • We attended he Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Physics SBIR/STTR exchange meeting: Two of our principal investigators presented online, covering our current research directions and findings. Presentations from the SBIR/STTR meeting can be found here: High Channel Density Digital DAQ by our Chief Technology Officer, Wojciech Skulski Data Management for High Speed DAQ by our Principal Investigator, Jeffrey Maggio • We participated in the workshop on New Generations of Detector and Data Acquisition Systems for Nuclear Physics at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams at Michigan State University: More Information is available here » Participants at the NEXTGENNDD workshop (Photo courtesy: FRIB). • American Physical Society division of Nuclear Physics Fall 2025: We set up a table and presented our DAQ developments. More Information is available here » SkuTek presentation at the APS DNP Conference, Jackson Hebel (Sr. Research Engineer) and Wojciech Skulski (CTO). Inspiring tomorrow’s scientists: Nuclear Science Day for Scouts On October 11, 2025, over 250 young scouts and leaders joined Berkeley Lab’s Nuclear Science Division along with Advanced Light Source, and the Berkeley Lab K-12 STEM Education & Outreach for the 13th Annual Nuclear Science Day for Scouts. The event focused on International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. We’re proud to have played a role in this event, by supporting a “Hands-On-Radioactivity” station demonstrating cosmic-ray detection using our Vireo digitizer shown earlier in this newsletter. Read the full article » A full auditorium of scouts and leaders ready to head off for their day at LBNL. (Credit: Heather Crawford) A
August Newsletter
SkuTek News Newsletter Welcome to SkuTek Newsletter! August 2025 Edition Where Science Meets Industry Welcome to the August edition of Skutek Newsletter. This month, in addition to demonstrating our Nuclear Physics DAQ capabilities we’re sharing real experimental results showcasing the FemtoDAQ Vireo’s gamma spectroscopy capabilities, and updates to our growing software ecosystem. About SkuTek Instrumentation SkuTek delivers complete Nuclear Physics DAQ solutions consisting of digitizers, trigger logic units, data collection computers, and data stream management software covering all the way from detector signals to high performance computing centers. We take care of the entire DAQ chain, relieving the researchers of DAQ minutiae. Our DAQ scales from tabletop systems for student training to facility-scale installations powering world-class experiments. Large-Scale DAQ Systems SkuTek offers end-to-end hardware and software solutions for every stage between detector and HPC centers. Complete DAQ chain from the detector to the HPC center Digitization of PMT’s, SiPM’s, or semiconductor detectors. 14 bits @ 100 MSPS with 1.2 LSB noise RMS. Modular architecture starting from 32 channels to thousands, enabling scaling to experimental requirements. Flexible internal trigger with noise suppression. External trigger and veto. Both triggered and triggerless operation. Either internal or external clock. On-board coincidence logic and System-wide multiplicity trigger. Waveforms up to 81 μs per channel. 48-bit time stamp for every event. Ethernet streaming output @ 1 Gbps standard, 10 Gbps optional (please inquire). GRETA event format. On-board Linux for setting up and monitoring each digitizer Optional Logic Master for defining system-wide trigger conditions. Over 5 years of continuous operation in the LZ environment at SURF with no reported failures. The world’s most sensitive dark matter experiment LUX-ZEPLIN has adopted SkuTek DAQ system with 1359 channels. “The Data Acquisition System of the LZ Dark Matter Detector: FADR” arXiv:2405.14732 Table-top digital instruments for research & education FemtoDAQ Vireo (2-channel) and FemtoDAQ Kingfisher (10-channel): 14 bits @ 100 MSPS with on-board pulse processing firmware, event recording, and multi channel analyzer (MCA) in each channel for real time histograms. Perfect for student training, small to mid-scale research projects, and educational demonstrations. Both instruments provide an integrated SiPM bias supply, web GUI, and Python based controls. Technology Update Solidago – UDP event generator, for advanced testing and validation of DAQ systems Solidago provides comprehensive FPGA-based testing of high performance DAQ Ethernet network infrastructure. Solidago (indicated in green) testing our 100 Gbps Data Management System Key features: Emulates 0.1 to 160 Gbps streaming from 16 Digitizers(512 Channels). FPGA Hardware-based testing software is not limiting the performance. Firmware based design provides deterministic timing. Fully configurable data streams you can adjust packet frequency, size, timing, and delays to precisely match your DAQ specifications and operating conditions. Easy to use web based control and monitoring. Can be daisy-chained for emulation of large DAQ systems. Applications: Stress testing routing equipment, Testing for network buffer overflow, Designing error correction systems, Developing scientific data management systems before hardware is in hand, Emulation of randomized timing or clock synchronized array of digitizers. Learn more here: Solidago – UDP Event Generator Data management and transfer solutions with open-source libraries & tools We provide a complete path from the detector to the high performance computing centers (HPC). The event files are saved to Data Collector computers with Python and C libraries engineered for throughput in research environment. The files can then transferred to the HPC center of your choice. Our software libraries provide integration with existing DAQ networking infrastructure while providing efficient data transfer to the HPC. Data Collector computers Liatris: 80 Gbps data collector for high density digitizer arrays Monarda: 10 Gbps data collector for smaller systems Software Systems: Skutek Data Management Utilities Data Management Utilities: Python based library that allows for easy tuning of 80+ parameters in DAQ systems, across kernel settings, hardware drivers, network configuration and software dependencies. Designed based on years of research and development. Drastically reduces the effort to research and manually tune and optimize system performance. SkuTek Performance Writing Library (SPEW): C language library for optimizing writing of large quantities of data to storage. Easy to adjust buffering, memory alignment, metadata syncing, block-usage etc. Achieve high performance, low-latency, and deterministic write operations across any storage medium with intuitive and easy-to-use functions. SkuTek Globus Auto File Transfer System: Interface to the Globus scheduling software, that allows for more user friendly operation, automation and scheduling. Can run on any computer with Globus network access. SkuTek Utilities (Skutils): Open source Python based library that allows for control and data management of all SkuTek product lines. Used for configuring experiments, pulse processing, trigger logic, data streaming and loading, real time monitoring, event building and file handling. Can run on lab computers for remote control of all Skutek products. Learn more here: Skutils Documentation Spotlight: Real-Time Gamma Spectroscopy with MCA mode Focus on education: FemtoDAQ Vireo delivers live histograms of gamma radiation Experimental setup showing two NaI(Tl) detectors, the source, and the Vireo digitizer This month, we’re sharing experimental results that showcase the ease of use of our instrumentation. Using our FemtoDAQ Vireo 2-channel digitizer paired with NaI(Tl) scintillation detectors, we demonstrated gamma-ray spectroscopy of 137Cs and 40K sources. The experiment was rapidly configured using the web interface and the setup consisted of two detectors and the Vireo digitizer. No other electronics was required. Results from our experiments:The 137Cs measurement revealed all expected spectral features: Real-time 137Cs gamma spectrum generated using Vireo’s built-in MCA firmware – no external electronics required. The detector bias was adjusted in order to match the pulse heights in both channels shown as blue and pink histograms. 662 keV photopeak with FWHM of 55 keV or 8.4%. Barium K X-rays at ~32 keV from internal conversion. Detectable barium L X-rays at ~5 keV, demonstrating low-noise performance. Compton continuum and backscatter peak at 184 keV. Plug-and-Play Simplicity: Built-in Multi Channel Analyzer (MCA) mode enabled real-time histogram visualization and detector PMT gain matching “by eye” using simple HV adjustments – no complex calibration procedures were required. After adjusting the PMT gain we successfully detected the 1460.83 keV