Computer automation of beam steering systems for the McMaster University Tandem Van de Graaff accelerator

A prototype computer control system has been added to the McMaster University Tandem Accelerator Laboratory's Model FN Van de Graaff. Using a PDP-11/23 computer, the two-dimensional electrostatic low-energy steerers are controlled in such a manner as to optimize energy analyzed beam intensity w...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE transactions on nuclear science 1988, Vol.35 (2), p.1001-1005
Main Authors: WONG, J, POEHLMAN, W. F. S, MCNAUGHT, R. A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
accelerators
Atomic, molecular and charged-particle sources and detectors
automation
Charged-particle beam sources and detectors
computer aided control
computer applications
control systems
Exact sciences and technology
Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy
nuclear energy
Physics
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Summary:A prototype computer control system has been added to the McMaster University Tandem Accelerator Laboratory's Model FN Van de Graaff. Using a PDP-11/23 computer, the two-dimensional electrostatic low-energy steerers are controlled in such a manner as to optimize energy analyzed beam intensity when initiated by accelerator operator command. The system has been successfully tried on a wide mass range of ion species and performs the operation in under five seconds. Another operating mode allows continuous maximization of beam intensity. This is useful as an operator's "third hand" while other parameters of the beam transport system are varied manually. This system is part of an ongoing program of computer automation of suitable accelerator subsystems within the Laboratory.
ISSN:0018-9499
1558-1578
DOI:10.1109/23.3690