EN IEC 63047:2021

Nuclear instrumentation - Data format for list mode digital data acquisition used in radiation detection and measurement

This document specifies the format of binary list-mode data at the output of digital data acquisition devices used for the detection and measurement of radiation. Such data acquisition devices may employ digital signal processors (DSP) and field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA) in combination with memory and a communication interface with a computer.

Nukleare Instrumentierung - Datenformat für digitale Datenerfassung im List-Mode für Strahlungsnachweis und -messung

Instrumentation nucléaire - Format de données pour l'acquisition de données numériques en mode liste utilisées dans la détection et la mesure des rayonnements

Jedrska merilna oprema - Podatkovni format za zajem digitalnih podatkov v obliki seznama, ki se uporablja za odkrivanje in merjenje sevanja (IEC 63047:2018 + COR1:2020)

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 11-Feb-2021
• ICS: 27.120.01 - Nuclear energy in general
• Technical Committee: CLC/TC 45B - Radiation protection instrumentation
• Drafting Committee: CLC/TC 45B - Radiation protection instrumentation
• Current Stage: 6060 - Document made available - Publishing
• Start Date: 12-Feb-2021
• Due Date: 24-Jan-2023
• Completion Date: 12-Feb-2021
• Ref Project: SIST EN IEC 63047:2021 - Nuclear instrumentation - Data format for list mode digital data acquisition used in radiation detection and measurement (IEC 63047:2018 + COR1:2020)

Overview

EN IEC 63047:2021 - "Nuclear instrumentation - Data format for list mode digital data acquisition used in radiation detection and measurement" defines a standardized binary list-mode data format for outputs of digital data acquisition (DAQ) devices used in radiation detection. The standard targets devices that use DSPs and FPGAs with memory and a communications interface to a computer, and it formalizes a machine-readable representation for event-by-event (list-mode) data to improve interoperability, storage and post-processing.

Key topics and technical requirements

• ASN.1-based data model: The standard uses Abstract Syntax Notation One (ASN.1) to describe data structures, ensuring a formal schema for list-mode records.
• Encoding rules: References to encoding specifications (e.g., Octet Encoding Rules / OER) and related standards (ISO/IEC 8824‑1, ISO/IEC 8825‑7) guide binary serialization.
• Numeric and timestamp types: Definitions include REAL32, REAL64, INTEGERList and specialized types such as TimeStamp and UTCDateTime for precise event time-stamping (consistent with ISO 8601 and IEEE 754 considerations).
• Header and metadata: A structured Header element carries identifiers (standardID, listModeDataID), measurement setup descriptors, deviceList and channelList metadata to document instrumentation, calibration and channel configuration.
• Event and channel descriptors: EventProperty, EventList and Channel definitions specify per-event fields, channel kinds, ADC sampling details, resolution, fineTimeBitResolution and synchronization status (SyncStatus).
• File and stream applicability: The format is applicable to both stored data files and real-time data streams, including multi-part data and device/channel multiplexing.
• Interoperability and extension: Object identifiers and extensibility mechanisms are specified for future compatibility; relations with IEC 62755 are clarified for cross-compatibility with illicit trafficking detection formats.
• Data security and provenance: The standard addresses data security and provenance considerations (metadata and messaging), supporting trustworthy archival and forensic use.

Practical applications and users

• Who uses it: DAQ hardware manufacturers, nuclear instrumentation designers, radiation protection labs, medical physics teams, safeguards and customs monitoring systems, software developers building analysis tools, and data archivists in nuclear facilities.
• Typical uses:
  • High-resolution pulse-by-pulse spectroscopy and timing (time-stamped list-mode acquisition)
  • Coincidence and timing-based event analysis (TOF, coincidence windows)
  • Multi-channel, multi-device measurement systems with unified metadata
  • Long-term archival and post-processing workflows that require precise time synchronization and documented provenance
  • Interoperable data exchange between instruments and analysis software

Related standards

• IEC 63047:2018 (base international text as adopted)
• IEC 62755 (format for radiation instruments used in illicit trafficking detection)
• ISO/IEC 8824-1 (ASN.1), ISO/IEC 8825-7 (OER)
• ISO 8601 (date/time representations), IEEE 754 (floating-point arithmetic)

EN IEC 63047:2021 is the recommended reference when implementing list-mode digital acquisition, ensuring consistent binary formats, reliable timestamps, and interoperable metadata for radiation measurement systems.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-april-2021
Jedrska merilna oprema - Podatkovni format za zajem digitalnih podatkov v obliki
seznama, ki se uporablja za odkrivanje in merjenje sevanja (IEC 63047:2018 +
COR1:2020)
Nuclear instrumentation - Data format for list mode digital data acquisition used in
radiation detection and measurement (IEC 63047:2018 + COR1:2020)
Nukleare Instrumentierung - Datenformat für digitale Datenerfassung im List-Mode für
Strahlungsnachweis und -messung (IEC 63047:2018 + COR1:2020)
Instrumentation nucléaire - Format de données pour l'acquisition de données
numériques en mode liste utilisées dans la détection et la mesure des rayonnements
(IEC 63047:2018 + COR1:2020)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN IEC 63047:2021
ICS:
17.240 Merjenje sevanja Radiation measurements
27.120.01 Jedrska energija na splošno Nuclear energy in general
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN IEC 63047

NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
February 2021
ICS 27.120.01
English Version
Nuclear instrumentation - Data format for list mode digital data
acquisition used in radiation detection and measurement
(IEC 63047:2018 + COR1:2020)
Instrumentation nucléaire - Format de données pour Nukleare Instrumentierung - Datenformat für digitale
l'acquisition de données numériques en mode liste utilisées Datenerfassung im List-Mode für Strahlungsnachweis und -
dans la détection et la mesure des rayonnements messung
(IEC 63047:2018 + COR1:2020) (IEC 63047:2018 + COR1:2020)
This European Standard was approved by CENELEC on 2021-01-25. CENELEC members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC
Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.
Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre or to any CENELEC member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CENELEC member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the
same status as the official versions.
CENELEC members are the national electrotechnical committees of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Turkey and the United Kingdom.

European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
Comité Européen de Normalisation Electrotechnique
Europäisches Komitee für Elektrotechnische Normung
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2021 CENELEC All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CENELEC Members.
Ref. No. EN IEC 63047:2021 E
European foreword
This document (EN IEC 63047:2021) consists of the text of IEC 63047:2018 prepared by SC 45B
"Radiation protection instrumentation" of IEC/TC 45 "Nuclear instrumentation".
The following dates are fixed:
• latest date by which the document has to be implemented at national (dop) 2022-01-25
level by publication of an identical national standard or by endorsement
• latest date by which the national standards conflicting with the (dow) 2024-01-25
document have to be withdrawn
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CENELEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
Endorsement notice
The text of the International Standard IEC 63047:2018 was approved by CENELEC as a European
Standard without any modification.

As impacted by IEC 63047:2018/COR1:2020.
Annex ZA
(normative)
Normative references to international publications
with their corresponding European publications
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments)
applies.
NOTE 1 Where an International Publication has been modified by common modifications, indicated by (mod), the
relevant EN/HD applies.
NOTE 2 Up-to-date information on the latest versions of the European Standards listed in this annex is available
here: www.cenelec.eu.
Publication Year Title EN/HD Year
IEC 62755 - Radiation protection instrumentation - Data - -
format for radiation instruments used in the
detection of illicit trafficking of radioactive
materials
ISO/IEC 8824-1 2015 Information technology - Abstract Syntax - -
Notation One (ASN.1): Specification of
basic notation
ISO/IEC 8825-7 - Information technology - ASN.1 encoding - -
rules - Part 7: Specification of Octet
Encoding Rules (OER)
ISO/IEC 9834 - Information technology – Procedures for - -
the operation of object identifier registration
authorities: General procedures and top
arcs of the international object identifier
tree
ISO/IEC 10646 2017 Information technology - Universal Coded - -
Character Set (UCS)
ISO 8601 - Data elements and interchange formats - - -
Information interchange - Representation
of dates and times
IEEE 754 - IEEE Standard for Floating-Point - -
Arithmetic
IEC 63047 ®
Edition 1.0 2018-10
INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
NORME
INTERNATIONALE
colour
inside
Nuclear instrumentation – Data format for list mode digital data acquisition used

in radiation detection and measurement

Instrumentation nucléaire – Format de données pour l'acquisition de données

numériques en mode liste utilisées dans la détection et la mesure des

rayonnements
INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
COMMISSION
ELECTROTECHNIQUE
INTERNATIONALE
ICS 27.120.01 ISBN 978-2-8322-6034-0

– 2 – IEC 63047:2018  IEC 2018
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 10
INTRODUCTION . 12
1 Scope . 13
2 Normative references . 13
3 Terms and definitions, abbreviated terms and notations . 14
3.1 Terms and definitions . 14
3.2 Abbreviated terms . 18
3.3 Notations . 18
3.3.1 Graphical notation . 18
3.3.2 ASN.1 notation . 18
3.3.3 Decimal separator . 19
3.3.4 Hexadecimal and binary numbers . 19
4 General requirements . 19
4.1 How to use this document . 19
4.2 The use of Abstract Syntax Notation One (ASN.1) . 19
4.2.1 General . 19
4.2.2 Encoding rule . 19
4.2.3 Extensibility . 19
4.2.4 Object identifier . 20
4.2.5 Optional and default elements . 20
4.3 The concept of list-mode data acquisition . 20
4.4 Channels and devices in a data file or stream . 21
4.5 Applicability to data files and streams . 22
4.6 Relation with IEC 62755 data format files . 23
4.7 Data security. 24
5 ASN.1 type definitions . 24
5.1 Overview. 24
5.2 ASN.1 types . 27
5.3 The REAL32 and REAL64 type . 27
5.3.1 Definition . 27
5.3.2 Use . 27
5.4 The REAL32List, REAL64List and INTEGERList types . 27
5.4.1 Definition . 27
5.4.2 Use . 28
5.5 The Numeric type . 28
5.5.1 Definition . 28
5.5.2 Use . 28
5.6 The UTCDateTime . 28
5.6.1 Definition . 28
5.6.2 Use . 28
5.7 The Range type . 28
5.7.1 Definition . 28
5.7.2 Use . 28
5.8 The TimeStamp type . 29
5.8.1 Definition . 29
5.8.2 Use . 29

IEC 63047:2018  IEC 2018 – 3 –
5.9 The SyncStatus type . 29
5.9.1 Definition . 29
5.9.2 Use . 29
5.10 The FlagKind type . 29
5.10.1 Definition . 29
5.10.2 Use . 29
5.11 The AccuracyKind type . 30
5.11.1 Definition . 30
5.11.2 Use . 30
5.12 The Listmodedata type . 30
5.12.1 Definition . 30
5.12.2 Use . 30
5.13 The Header type . 31
5.13.1 Definition . 31
5.13.2 Use . 31
5.13.3 The standardID element . 32
5.13.4 The listModeDataID element . 32
5.13.5 The listModeDataPart and listModeDataNParts elements . 32
5.13.6 The measSetupID element . 32
5.13.7 The measSetupDescription element . 32
5.13.8 The iec62755 element . 32
5.13.9 The radSource element . 32
5.13.10 The start element . 33
5.13.11 The startAccuracy element . 33
5.13.12 The deviceList element . 33
5.13.13 The channelList element . 33
5.13.14 The messageList element . 34
5.14 The IEC62755 type . 34
5.14.1 Definition . 34
5.14.2 Use . 34
5.15 The Device type . 35
5.15.1 Definition . 35
5.15.2 Use . 35
5.15.3 The name, manuf, model and serial elements . 35
5.16 The Channel type . 35
5.16.1 Definition . 35
5.16.2 Use . 36
5.16.3 The deviceID element . 36
5.16.4 The kind and physicalChannel elements . 36
5.16.5 The name element . 36
5.16.6 The description element . 36
5.16.7 The parameters element . 36
5.16.8 The delay element . 37
5.16.9 The refClock and syncStatus elements . 37
5.16.10 The adcSamplingRate element . 37
5.16.11 The adcBitResolution element . 37
5.16.12 The adcJitterRMS and timeStampJitterRMS elements . 37

– 4 – IEC 63047:2018  IEC 2018
5.16.13 The fineTimeBitResolution element . 37
5.16.14 The clockFrequency element . 38
5.16.15 The eventPropertyList element. 38
5.17 The EventProperty type . 38
5.17.1 Definition . 38
5.17.2 Use . 38
5.18 The EventList type . 39
5.18.1 Definition . 39
5.18.2 Use . 39
5.18.3 The listModeDataID element . 39
5.18.4 The listModeDataPart element . 39
5.18.5 The id element . 39
5.18.6 The eventList element . 39
5.19 The Event type . 40
5.19.1 Definition . 40
5.19.2 Use . 40
5.20 The EventPulse and EventPulseProperty types . 40
5.20.1 Definition . 40
5.20.2 Use . 40
5.20.3 The channelID element . 40
5.20.4 The timeStamp element . 41
5.20.5 The valueList, valueTypeList and valueDescriptionList
elements . 41
5.20.6 The flags, flagDescriptionList and flagKindList elements . 42
5.20.7 The description element . 43
5.21 The EventDigitalSignalList and
EventDigitalSignalListProperty types . 43
5.21.1 Definition . 43
5.21.2 Use . 43
5.21.3 The channelID element . 43
5.21.4 The timeStamp element . 43
5.21.5 The digitalSignalList and digitalSignalPropertyList
elements . 43
5.21.6 The flagDescriptionList and flagKindList elements . 43
5.21.7 The description element . 44
5.22 The DigitalSignal and DigitalSignalProperty type . 44
5.22.1 Definition . 44
5.22.2 Use . 44
5.22.3 The samplingRate and defaultSamplingRate element . 45
5.22.4 The range and defaultRange element . 45
5.22.5 The delay element . 45
5.22.6 The samples element . 45
5.22.7 The flags element . 46
5.22.8 The description element . 46
5.22.9 The unit element . 46
5.22.10 The samplesType element . 46
5.23 The EventTime and EventTimeProperty types . 46
5.23.1 Definition . 46

IEC 63047:2018  IEC 2018 – 5 –
5.23.2 Use . 46
5.23.3 The channelID element . 47
5.23.4 The timeStamp element . 47
5.23.5 The sinceStart and sincePrevious elements . 47
5.23.6 The description element . 47
5.24 The EventRollover and EventRolloverProperty types . 47
5.24.1 Definition . 47
5.24.2 Use . 47
5.24.3 The channelID element . 48
5.24.4 The nRollovers element . 48
5.24.5 The description element . 48
5.24.6 The timeStampCounterBits element . 48
5.25 The EventRTC and EventRTCProperty types . 48
5.25.1 Definition . 48
5.25.2 Use . 48
5.25.3 The channelID element . 49
5.25.4 The timeStamp element . 49
5.25.5 The realtimeclock element . 49
5.25.6 The syncStatus element . 49
5.25.7 The description element . 49
5.26 The EventLogic and EventLogicProperty types . 49
5.26.1 Definition . 49
5.26.2 Use . 50
5.26.3 The channelID element . 50
5.26.4 The timeStamp element . 50
5.26.5 The flags, flagDescriptionList and flagKindList elements . 50
5.26.6 The description element . 50
5.27 The EventGeo and EventGeoProperty types . 50
5.27.1 Definition . 50
5.27.2 Use . 51
5.27.3 The channelID element . 51
5.27.4 The timeStamp element . 51
5.27.5 The position element . 51
5.27.6 The orientation element . 51
5.27.7 The speed element . 51
5.27.8 The description element . 51
5.28 The Position type . 52
5.28.1 Definition . 52
5.28.2 Use . 52
5.29 The GeographicPoint type . 52
5.29.1 Definition . 52
5.29.2 Use . 52
5.29.3 The latitude element . 52
5.29.4 The longitude element . 52
5.29.5 The elevation element . 53
5.29.6 The elevationOffset element . 53
5.29.7 The geopointAccuracy element . 53

– 6 – IEC 63047:2018  IEC 2018
5.29.8 The elevationAccuracy element. 53
5.29.9 The elevationOffsetAccuracy element . 53
5.29.10 The datum element . 53
5.30 The RelativeLocation type . 53
5.30.1 Definition . 53
5.30.2 Use . 53
5.30.3 The rellocAzimuth element . 54
5.30.4 The rellocInclination element. 54
5.30.5 The distance element . 54
5.30.6 The origin element . 54
5.31 The Orientation type . 55
5.31.1 Definition . 55
5.31.2 Use . 55
5.31.3 The azimuth element . 55
5.31.4 The inclination element . 55
5.31.5 The roll element . 56
5.32 The EventMeasurementList and EventMeasurementListProperty
types . 56
5.32.1 Definition . 56
5.32.2 Use . 56
5.32.3 The channelID element . 56
5.32.4 The timeStamp element . 56
5.32.5 The measurementList element . 56
5.32.6 The description element . 57
5.32.7 The measurementPropertyList element . 57
5.33 The Measurement and MeasurementProperty types . 57
5.33.1 Definition . 57
5.33.2 Use . 57
5.33.3 The value element . 57
5.33.4 The accuracy and defaultAccuracy elements . 57
5.33.5 The description element . 58
5.33.6 The quantity element . 58
5.33.7 The accuracyKind element . 58
5.33.8 The unit element . 58
5.33.9 The valueType element . 58
5.33.10 The accuracyType element . 58
5.34 The EventHistogram1DList and EventHistogram1DListProperty
types . 58
5.34.1 Definition . 58
5.34.2 Use . 58
5.34.3 The channelID element . 59
5.34.4 The timeStamp element . 59
5.34.5 The histogram1DList element . 59
5.34.6 The description element . 59
5.34.7 The histogram1DPropertyList element . 59
5.35 The Histogram1D and Histogram1DProperty types . 59
5.35.1 Definition . 59

IEC 63047:2018  IEC 2018 – 7 –
5.35.2 Use . 60
5.35.3 The allBins element . 60
5.35.4 The binList element . 60
5.35.5 The description element . 60
5.35.6 The histogramKind element . 60
5.35.7 The accumulation element . 61
5.35.8 The binContentType element . 61
5.35.9 The nBinsX element . 61
5.35.10 The quantityX and quantityY elements . 61
5.35.11 The unitX and unitY elements . 61
5.35.12 The rangeX and rangeY elements . 61
5.36 The EventHistogram2DList and EventHistogram2DListProperty
types . 61
5.36.1 Definition . 61
5.36.2 Use . 61
5.37 The Histogram2D and Histogram2DProperty types . 62
5.37.1 Definition . 62
5.37.2 Use . 62
5.38 The EventMessage and EventMessageProperty types . 63
5.38.1 Definition . 63
5.38.2 Use . 63
5.38.3 The channelID element . 63
5.38.4 The timeStamp element . 63
5.38.5 The txtMessage element . 63
5.38.6 The binMessage element . 63
5.38.7 The description element . 64
5.39 The Footer type . 64
5.39.1 Definition . 64
5.39.2 Use . 64
5.39.3 The listModeDataID element . 64
5.39.4 The listModeDataPart element . 64
5.39.5 The lastEventListid element . 64
5.39.6 The stop element . 64
5.39.7 The totalDeadTimeList and totalLiveTimeList elements . 64
6 How to use the list-mode data format defined in this document . 65
6.1 General . 65
6.2 Using timestamps . 65
6.3 Dealing with timestamp counter rollover . 67
6.4 Optimising the size of timestamp and rollover event encodings . 68
6.5 Specifying high-precision event timing . 68
6.5.1 General . 68
6.5.2 Randomisation of *FINE_TIME values to resolve binning issues . 68
6.6 Specifying events of different types in the same list-mode data . 69
6.7 Representing data from one device and one channel . 71
6.8 Encoding/decoding data for writing to/reading from a file or stream . 73
6.8.1 General requirements . 73
6.8.2 Writing encoded data to a file . 73
6.8.3 Writing encoded data to a stream . 79

– 8 – IEC 63047:2018  IEC 2018
6.8.4 Reading encoded data from a file . 79
6.8.5 Reading encoded data from a stream . 79
6.9 Representing data from more than one channel . 80
6.10 Representing data from more than one device . 82
6.11 Specifying dead time . 83
6.11.1 Dead time, real time and live time . 83
6.11.2 Using flags to identify pile-up . 84
6.11.3 Associating dead time to individual pulses . 86
6.11.4 Specifying dead time and live/real time not associated to individual
pulses . 87
6.11.5 Specifying different sources of dead time . 88
6.12 Representing logic events . 89
6.13 Representing digital signals . 90
6.14 Representing one-dimensional histograms . 92
6.15 Representing text or binary data in any format . 93
6.15.1 General . 93
6.15.2 Text messages . 93
6.15.3 Binary or text data in any format . 93
6.15.4 Sending IEC 62755 data . 94
Annex A (informative) Complete ASN.1 syntax for list-mode data . 95
A.1 ASN.1 syntax . 95
Annex B (informative) Introduction to ASN.1 . 105
B.1 General . 105
B.2 ASN.1 essentials . 105
B.3 Advantages of ASN.1 . 106
B.4 Available tools . 106
B.5 ASN.1 workflow – an example . 106
B.5.1 Overview . 106
B.5.2 ASN.1 specification . 107
B.5.3 Choice of encoding rule . 107
B.5.4 Encoding . 107
B.5.5 Transmission or storage . 108
B.5.6 Decoding . 108

Figure 1 – Graphical notations used in this document. . 18
Figure 2 – Typical data acquisition device controlled by a local computer, which stores
list-mode data on a local drive and/or sends it to a remote computer . 20
Figure 3 – Example of combining channels in one or more data files. 22
Figure 4 – This document applies to data files and data streams . 23
Figure 5 – Relations between IEC 63047 and IEC 62755 data files . 24
Figure 6 – Example with seven values of the List
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