Wednesday 2 Feb. 2011

Speaker:   Edward Freeman (RAL/EID)

Title:   "Introduction to Programmable Logic Devices and FPGAs".

Abstract:

As the size and complexity of high energy particle physics experiments grows 
so do their demands for acquiring, processing and storing data. This task is 
traditionally split into stages with the front end detector, readout and off 
detector “real-time” processing followed by storage and offline analysis.
This talk is a brief introduction to the technology used to achieve the off 
detector “real-time” processing and reduction of the detector data. 
We will look at the technologies that can be utilized from industry and how 
to cope with that “I have just invented a much better algorithm” moment half 
way thought a project.  The key technology for achieving this is the Field 
Programmable Gate Array.   This talk will describe how FPGAs work and what 
to expect from the future of this technology.