Control system for the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility

• Published in: Proceedings Particle Accelerator Conference Vol. 4; pp. 2202 - 2204 vol.4
• Main Authors: Tatum, B.A., Juras, R.C., Meigs, M.J.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 1995
• Subjects: Control systems; Cyclotrons; Distributed computing; Distributed control; Electrical equipment industry; Ion accelerators; Ion beams; Ion sources; Particle beams; Radio control
• ISBN: 9780780329348; 0780329341
• DOI: 10.1109/PAC.1995.505498

A new accelerator control system is being implemented as part of the development of the Holifield Radioactive Ion Beam Facility (HRIBF), a first generation radioactive ion beam (RIB) facility. The pre-existing accelerator control systems are based on 1970's technology and addition or alteration of controls is cumbersome and costly. A new, unified control system for the cyclotron and tandem accelerators, the RIB injector, ion sources, and accelerator beam lines is based on a commercial product from Vista Control Systems, Inc. Several other accelerator facilities, as well as numerous industrial sites, are now using this system. The control system is distributed over a number of computers which communicate over Ethernet and is easily extensible. Presently, implementation at the HRIBF is based on VAX/VMS, VAX/ELN, VME, and Allen-Bradley PLC5 programmable logic controller architectures. Expansion to include UNIX platforms and CAMAC hardware support is planned. Operator interface is via X-terminals. The system has proven to be quite powerful, yet it has been easy to implement with a small staff. A Vista users group has resulted in shared software to implement specific controls. This paper details present system features and future implementations at the HRIBF.