LANL, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA
This work presents a review of the shift in tuning methods employed at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE). We explore the tuning categories and methods employed in four key sections of the accelerator, namely the Low-Energy Beam Transport (LEBT), the Drift Tube Linac (DTL), the side-Coupled Cavity Linac (CCL), and the High-Energy Beam Transport (HEBT). The study additionally presents the findings of employing novel software tools and algorithms to enhance each domain’s beam quality and performance. This study showcases the efficacy of integrating model-driven and model-independent tuning techniques, along with acceptance and adaptive tuning strategies, to enhance the optimization of beam delivery to experimental facilities. The research additionally addresses the prospective strategies for augmenting the control system and diagnostics of LANSCE.
*R.W. Garnett, J. Phys.: Conf. Ser. 1021 012001
**A. Scheinker, Rev. ST Accel. Beams 16 102803 2013
***R. Keller, Proc of Part Accel Conf
****M. Oothoudt, Proc of Part Accel Conf, 2003, v4
LANL, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA
The Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) operates at a maximum repetition rate of 120 Hz. Timing gates are required for synchronization of the accelerator to provide beam acceleration along the LINAC and beam distribution to the five experimental areas. They are also provided to other devices with sensitive operating points relative to the machine cycle. Over the last 50 years of operations many new time sensitive pieces of equipment have been added. This has changed the demand on, and complexity of, the timing system. Further driven by equipment obsolescence issues, the timing system un-derwent many upgrades and revitalization efforts, with the most significant deployment starting in 2016. Due to these upgrade efforts, the timing system architecture design changed from a purely centralized system, to a distributed event-based one. The purpose of this paper is to detail the current state of the timing system, as a hy-brid system with the gate events being generated from a new timing master system, while still utilizing legacy distribution and fanout systems. Upgrades to the distribu-tion system are planned, but due to the required beam delivery schedule, they can only be deployed in sections during four-month annual maintenance cycles. The paper will also cover the off-the-shelf solutions that have been found for standardization, and the efforts towards a life cycle management process.
LA-UR-23-31123
