Blair Stringfellow circulated (Nov. 17, 1999), a summary of his measurements of the amplifier outputs used to pulse the ground-plane wires for gain and t0 calibration; a slightly edited version of his summary follows:

The 72 outputs of the ground-plane pulser were checked for channel-to-channel variations. The test conditions were:

• The Wavetek waveform generator supplied Fabrice's standard pulse labeled "laser". This pulse is 200 mV, 10 microsecond wide. It is almost a square wave but has a rounded shoulder on the rising edge.

• Vahe's rate-limiter box was in.

• The output of each amplifier was measured with a digital scope (50-ohm termination), with the scope averaging over 30 pulses; the estimated measurement error is +/-0.02 volts.

Results:

• Mean = 3.692 Volts
• Sigma = 0.037 Volts (1.0%)
• Minimum value = 3.62 Volts (-2.0%)
• Maximum value = 3.76 Volts (+1.8%)

However, throughout the 1999 running, unpowered MWC cards were in place in the outer 15 sockets; the innermost socket was unterminated; and the LOAB's were grounded. The inconsistency of the anode-wire terminations caused considerable variation between pad rows in the absolute measured pulser amplitudes.

See Fabrice Retiere's ground-plane pulser instructions for more information on the ground-plane pulser.