The time synchronization of CSNS neutron instrument

In Chinese Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS), proton beam is used to strike metal tungsten target, and the target generates high flux neutron for experiments on neutron instruments. The precise time and beam current of proton hitting the target need to be measured. Then this time is broadcasted to the target station and the neutron instruments to work collaboratively. To calculate the neutron energy, this time is also needed to measuring the neutron time of flight(TOF). The beam current of proton is sent to physical analysis software to normalize neutron flux. The time synchronization technology based on WhiteRabbit, can achieve high precision time synchronization with a large range of nodes. A synchronization system is built in CSNS with WR nodes composed of signal acquisition, time synchronization and data packing-sending. The proton beam current is monitored with timestamp, for physical analysis software. And more, in CSNS, a real-time control system based on WR is built for measuring the proton hit time, broadcasting to the electronics system of detectors, and calculating TOF of neutrons.