Fast triggers for a proton injector at PEFP

Area of Science:

• Particle Physics
• Accelerator Technology
• Control Systems Engineering

Background:

• Precise control of particle beams is crucial for experiments.
• Existing timing systems may lack the required sub-microsecond precision.
• Pulsed proton beam extraction demands accurate trigger signal management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a fast timing system for precise control of pulsed proton beam extraction.
• To achieve sub-microsecond precision in managing transistor-transistor logic (TTL) trigger signals.
• To enable adjustable pulse delay, duty cycle, and external interlock functionality.

Main Methods:

• The system utilizes a VME (Versa Module Eurocard) architecture, including a VME CPU and fast I/O boards.
• Fan-out modules are employed for signal distribution.
• Software development is based on EPICS (Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System) environment, incorporating record/device support and channel access.

Main Results:

• A timing system capable of controlling TTL trigger signals with sub-microsecond precision has been successfully developed.
• The system allows for precise setting of pulse delay and duty.
• External interlock signals can effectively prohibit beam pulses.

Conclusions:

• The developed VME-based timing system provides a robust solution for high-precision pulsed proton beam extraction.
• The integration with EPICS ensures flexible and reliable control.
• This system enhances the capabilities of ion sources for particle accelerator applications.