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The Sonix package is the main instrument control software at the IBR-2 reactor. It was originated in the beginning of 1990s for the Neutron Spectrometer with High Resolution (beam 6A of IBR-2). Later the complex was transferred to other instruments, including those located outside Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics. A little bit less than 20 installations are in operation now. When developing the complex, we were guided both by world trends, as well as by the specifics of our laboratory. Many important requirements were formulated by our users, therefore, they can be considered as real co-authors of the project. Besides an instrument control itself, the complex also includes remote measurement supervising subsystem (WebSonix service) and the central repository for measurement results.

—This article discusses the results of parallel measurements with two-coordinate position-sensitive He3 detectors with a delay line, which are installed on REFLEX and GRAINS neutron spectrometers of the IBR-2 pulsed reactor with the simultaneous use of three data acquisition systems: DeLiDAQ-1, DeLiDAQ-2, and a system based on the N6730 digitizer produced by CAEN.

A new gaseous annular sectional thermal-neutron detector for the new neutron diffractometer at the IBR-2 reactor has been designed and manufactured at the Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR). The detector is designed to study small-volume samples at high pressure and consists of 16 sections, each one of which is divided into six independent detector elements. We present the main design features of the detector, detecting electronics, data-acquisition and visualization software, and software system for experiment management. The results of the first neutronographic experiments that were carried out with the use of the detector are also presented.

The modernization of the detector system and control system of the neutron powder diffractometer (NPD) in the GEK-5 channel of the VVR-c reactor (Obninsk Branch, Karpov Institute of Physical Chemistry) is described. The PC-connected hardware and software complex, which ensures data acquisition and storage and control of the experiments, is created. The main modules of the NPD automation system and Sonix+ control software package, designed at the Frank Laboratory of Neutron Physics at JINR, are briefly described. The modernization has made it possible to increase the luminosity of the diffractometer and completely automatize the measurement process.

Principles of arranging and design features of the WebSonix system consisting of the central website and facilities for communication with spectrometers are considered. The system allows one to reflect the actual statuses of all spectrometer components, view measurements protocols, display acquired spectra, and control the course of the experiment on the spectrometers under control of the Sonix+ software package (Windows XP operational system). The system does not depend on the spectrometer characteristics and permits simple changes of their structure and easy adaptation to special features of spectrometric data representation. The system is based on PHP and Python scripts. The GNU/Linux Debian operational system and Apache 2 web server are installed on the website computer.