Data Requirements and Handshake for Thf CERN Antiproton Transfer Operations from the AA and PS to Client Machines
The CERN Antiproton Accumulator(AA) fulfils its role as a p¿ source for all the diverse needs at CERN ranging from a few 109 p¿'s in a single bunch for the Low Energy Antiproton Ring(LEAR) every hour or so upto 1011 p¿'s in 3 bunches for the Super Proton Synchrotron(SPS) Collider operations every 24 hours. The geographically dispersed accelerators involve large distances and proper synchronisation is mandatory for successful transfer operations. While every transfer operation needs preparatory work on all the machines involved in the chain with and without verbal communication in-between operators and control centres, an essential element has been the data exchange over the computer network linking the various processors in the PS and SPS Collider complex. This paper attempts to show some of the specialised data requirements which arose for the p¿ transfer operations and the essential software linking of various processes in different computers leading to a complete transfer operation from the AA, via the transfer lines and PS, to the SPS Collider or LEAR. For the Collider runs, the pre- and post-countdown data synchronisation and interchange involves upto a dozen computers in the PS and SPS computer networks.
A multi-processor, multi-task control structure for the CERN SPS
In response to particular operational needs of the part-time use of the CERN SPS as a proton-antiproton collider, a multi-processor, multi-task control structure has been developed.
Start-Up of the New CPS Controls System and Switch-Over of the 800 MeV Booster Controls
The new CPS controls system was successfully put into operation on 19 November, 1980, when the 800 MeV Booster, after switching over to the new system, was started up for particle physics. A subset of the new system had already been installed on the Antiproton Accumulator in Spring 1980 and has reliably served several months of engineering run. The Booster machine and control of the CPS cycle generation are now routinely operated by the new system which is based on distributed processing, extensively applying microprocessors in the interface. The problems encountered in converting existing accelerator controls, the control switchover itself and operational experience gained up to the date of the conference are described.