Motor-driven autonomous system for controlling beamline iris diaphragm apertures

Area of Science:

• Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics
• Applied Physics
• Instrumentation and Measurement Science

Background:

• Laser spectroscopy beamlines utilize iris diaphragms to control ion beam divergence and optimize laser-ion beam overlap.
• Existing aperture control systems exhibit significant hysteresis, hindering reproducible settings and increasing manual workload.
• Automated adjustment is crucial for measurements requiring varied aperture sizes, particularly in alternating collinear and anti-collinear configurations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and implement an automated system for adjusting iris diaphragms in laser spectroscopy beamlines.
• To address the hysteresis effect in aperture control systems.
• To enhance the reproducibility and efficiency of high-precision measurements in the COALA beamline.

Main Methods:

• Development of the 'Iris Mover' system, featuring motor-driven iris apertures.
• Integration of computer control for user-friendly operation and precise aperture adjustment.
• Implementation of a mechanism to compensate for hysteresis effects in the aperture diameter control.

Main Results:

• The Iris Mover system successfully automates the adjustment of iris diaphragms.
• The system demonstrates effective compensation for hysteresis, ensuring reproducible aperture settings.
• User control via computer interface simplifies operation and reduces manual intervention.

Conclusions:

• The Iris Mover system provides a robust solution for automated iris diaphragm control in laser spectroscopy.
• This automation enhances measurement reproducibility and efficiency, particularly for complex experimental setups.
• The developed system is a valuable addition to precision measurement facilities like the COALA beamline.