Real Time Optical Network for Pulsed-Accelerator Control

The high performance of present-generation high energy accelerators has required a high degree of coordination among all accelerator systems, including RF acceleration, instrumentation, detectors, and other components. Typically, this level of coordination has been achieved by distributing timing signals over coaxial cables, combined with beam-based techniques to optimize the synchronization of the accelerator systems. However, the sheer size and performance required of the next generation of accelerators, particularly pulsed linear accelerators, would make these timing and synchronization approaches impractical. This project will explore the adoption of a commercial product, which already has many of the required features, for the control and timing of the next generation of pulsed accelerators. In Phase I, optical fibers will be stabilized to achieve precise clock distribution, digital channels controlled by Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) technology will be used for machine control, and TCP/IP data will be multiplexed over the same channel. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee In addition to DOE accelerator applications, advanced timing, communication, and control systems should find use in accelerator-based x-ray sources, long-baseline coherent radio telescope arrays, the accurate mapping of the Earth¿s geoid, and the measurement of fundamental physical parameters.