Abstract: Modern physics experiments produce vast amounts of high-resolution data essential for detecting sensitive and rare phenomena, from searching for dark matter to detecting single photons for quantum information and sensing. The sheer volume of data can quickly exceed typical CPU bandwidths, requiring custom electronics capable of making split-second decisions on incoming data streams. By filtering out noise in real time, we conserve disk space and compute power for only the highest quality data, leading to more discoveries more quickly. At SLAC, we have developed agile FPGA-based instrumentation that provides a scalable, reusable platform for high-speed signal processing, catering to diverse scientific goals both at the laboratory and beyond. This technology has successfully been employed to capture the earliest light from the universe and is currently being adapted to manage a large-scale quantum network, paving the way for next-generation computational capabilities. By automating real-time data processing, our systems help scientists focus on meaningful analyses that accelerate scientific discoveries.

Bio: Jenny is a staff engineer at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in the Technology Innovations Directorate. She earned her PhD from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2024, where she developed a high-density superconducting detector readout and cryogenic microwave components to support next-generation single-photon detector arrays. At SLAC, she designs and builds custom electronics for high-speed data acquisition and experiment control across a wide variety of disciplines including cosmology, astronomy, quantum information, and biological imaging with a special focus on high-speed, high-density, and low-noise detector systems.