Computer Control of the Los Alamos Linear Accelerator

A data acquisition and control system for the 800-MeV proton linear accelerator for the Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility has been designed on the premise that an on-line digital computer affords the best means of maintaining operator control over the machine. The presence in the control system of a computer acting as a large programmable switching device allows the active area of the accelerator control console to be concentrated into just two panels. All information regarding the status of the accelerator, together with the capability for adjusting any control channel in the facility, is provided on these two panels. The central feature of the console is a digital CRT for alphanumeric displays. With this versatile device and the other hardware on the console, the operator will be able to execute such varied and sophisticated tasks as steering the beam down the accelerator, making phase space plots of the beam, and performing parametric studies of the effect of any control channel all on-line. The concepts embodied in the LAMPF computer control system are being tested and evaluated in a series of experiments referred to as the Mockup Program. The status of these experiments and the associated hardware are described.