Problem We Solve

Ensuring accurate timing in control and diagnostic systems for particle accelerators.

Why It’s Important

Accurate timing is crucial for the proper functioning, optimization, and safety of particle accelerators, as it enables:

Synchronization of components: Precise coordination of various accelerator elements, such as radio-frequency (RF) cavities, beam monitors, and magnets, is essential for guiding and manipulating charged particles along the desired path.

Beam diagnostics: Accurate timing is necessary for the effective use of diagnostic tools like beam position monitors, emittance monitors, and energy spectrometers, which help optimize accelerator performance and ensure the quality of generated particle beams.

Pulse shaping and beam manipulation: Short, intense pulses of particles are often produced in accelerators. Precise timing is crucial for controlling the properties of these pulses, such as duration, intensity, and energy distribution.

Data acquisition and processing: Proper correlation and interpretation of data collected from various sensors and detectors rely on accurate timing, which is used to fine-tune accelerator performance and guarantee successful experiments.

Experiment synchronization: Precise timing is necessary for coordinating the operation of particle accelerators with other instruments, such as detectors or external lasers, ensuring accurate and reliable experimental results.

Safety and interlock systems: Real-time monitoring of various parameters and triggering protective measures in case of anomalies or potentially hazardous situations are dependent on accurate timing, ensuring the protection of both the accelerator’s equipment and its operators.

How We Solve it

Local Oscillator Distributor (LOD)

A double 1:16 ultra low-noise RF signal splitter whose main functionality is the distribution of sine clocks with minimal degradation at short distances ( tens of meters).  The system FPGA is dedicated to configure and monitoring the RF signals. An embedded soft processor is used to provide a simple remote interface to the users. It is complemented with an EPICS driver based on Asyn and StreamDevice module, fully compliant with the EPICS official specifications.

LOD can be handled through the Ethernet port and the SCPI protocol. This SCPI protocol was released as an additional layer for the IEEE-488.2 standard, used for controlling and monitoring the instruments through GPIB.

uTCA/Standalone BPM

Our digital beam position monitoring system (BPM) based on uTCA technology provides an accurate measure of the beam position in the XY plane defined by the section of the accelerating cavities. It plays a crucial role in the commissioning and operation of the cavities that compose any particle accelerator. In addition to position, thanks to the BPM system it can be measured the spread and the current of the beam as well as the time of flight (TOF). Our solution is tailored on customer needs and take full advantage of our previous expertise on PCIe-S BPM equipment now working with the most advance crate technologies.

uTCA/Standalone LLRF

Our digital RF stabilization system is available on the uTCA or stand-alone form-factors for best in-class LLRF solutions. They are our new fully digital RF systems designed to offer an accurate control of electromagnetic field inside the any accelerating cavities and playing a key role in the overall performance of any particle accelerator. Our solution is tailored on customer needs and take full advantage of our previous expertise on PCIe-S LLRF equipment now working with the most advance crate technologies.

Why Choose Us

Safran collaborates on many breaking-through challenges all around the world, providing best-in class and highly innovative solutions for the most demanding scientific facilities.

Safran is widely known as a world-wide leader on accurate sub-nanosecond time transfer and frequency distribution as well as having high expertise on advanced control systems for particle accelerators. Our company collaborates on many breaking-through challenges all around the world, providing best-in class and highly innovative solutions for the most demanding scientific facilities.

Control and Diagnostic for Particle Accelerators

Safran already provides Low Level RF control systems, Beam Position Monitor and timing solutions to customers like CIEMAT, CERN, F4E, SARAF, ITER or ESS with outstanding performance.

CERN Collaboration

Safran (previously Seven Solutions) is the original designer of the Open hardware White-Rabbit switch as well as the international leader on sub-nanosecond time transfer technology. White Rabbit is the key ingredient of our Timing Systems for Particle Accelerators. From a purely scientific idea came an industrial solution. It is now part of the IEEE-1588-2019 High Accuracy profile and widely used on many industrial segments thanks to our products ecosystem.

RF control system design for the IFMIF project

We have collaborated with F4E and CIEMAT In the design of the LIPAc LLRF system as well as BPMs diagnosis elements including novel mechanisms for digital frequency dissemination. We also provided design for the upgrade of key elements of the LIPAc timing systems as well as on-site/off-site support for engineering activities based on the use of EPICS software and Fast /Slow Control elements, on-site Assistance for ESS for microTCA boards integration (firmware and drivers) as well as timing system support.