The EPICS control system for IsoDAR

TL;DR

This paper presents a flexible, modular control system combining EPICS, React Automation Studio, and custom drivers for small laboratories using off-the-shelf electronics, demonstrated on the MIT MIST-1 ion source and scalable for the IsoDAR project.

Contribution

It introduces a new control system setup tailored for small labs that integrates EPICS with React Automation Studio and custom drivers, enhancing flexibility and scalability.

Findings

Successfully implemented on MIT's MIST-1 ion source

Provides a scalable solution for the IsoDAR accelerator

Enables small labs to deploy control systems efficiently

Abstract

Many large accelerator facilities have adopted the open-source EPICS software as the quasi-industry standard for control systems. They typically have access to their own electronics laboratory and dedicated personnel for control system development. On the other hand, small laboratories, many based at universities, use commercial software like LabView, or entirely homebrewed systems. These often become cumbersome when the number of controlled devices increases over time. Here we present a control system setup, based on a combination of EPICS, React Automation Studio, and our own drivers for electronics available to smaller laboratories -- such as Arduinos -- that is flexible, modular, and robust. It allows small laboratories, working with off-the-shelf modular electronics, power supplies, and other devices to quickly set up a control system without a large facility overhead, while retaining maximum compatibility and upgradeability. We demonstrate our setup for the MIST-1 ion source experiment at MIT. This control system will later be used to serve the entire IsoDAR accelerator complex and, as such, must be easily expandable.