Multivariable Control of Superconducting Particle Accelerator Cavities

Sponsor: National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL)

Collaborators: Prof. Hassan K. Khalil, Dr. John Vincent (NSCL)

A cascade of superconducting cavities effectively accelerates charged particles, when the electromagnetic field inside each cavity is precisely controlled to operate at the resonance with desired a desired phase. A number of factors could affect the accelerating field, examples of which include the driving input of the cavity and mechanical disturbances that could shift the resonant frequency of the cavity (known as the microphonics problem).

In this project we plan to develop a multivariable framework for the control of superconducting cavities.  In particular, this will put the radio-frequency (RF) driving input and the piezoelectric cavity tuner under the same umbrella, which will allow us to examine the suitable control strategies in a systematic manner. The algorithms will be implemented on a versatile embedded control module developed in our earlier work to test their effectiveness in real-time control of superconducting cavities.

The picture below shows Nathan Usher, Dr. Tan's former student, holding the embedded control module he developed in his Master's thesis..