Model Driven Ramp Control at RHIC

TL;DR

This paper describes a model-driven control system for the RHIC accelerator that predicts and manages magnet ramping and optics adjustments during energy ramp-up, improving operational efficiency and precision.

Contribution

It introduces an online model server and client-server environment for real-time ramp control and optics tuning at RHIC, enhancing operational capabilities.

Findings

Successful implementation of the model-driven ramp control system.

Improved accuracy in optics prediction during ramping.

Operational experience demonstrating system effectiveness.

Abstract

At the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC), magnets are ramped from injection energy to storage energy in several min utes where it is to remain for several hours. The path up the ramp is marked by 'StepStones' where the the optics of the ma chine, which can change dramatically when we perform a beta*-squeeze, is given in units like Quadrupole focusing strengt h or Corrector-Dipole angle. The machine is tuned at these Stepstones, and at Injection or Storage, by specifying physic s properties like Tunes and Chromaticities. An on-line model server handles conversion to magnet strengths, and predicts the optics along the whole ramp. We will describe the underlying principles, the client-server environment, including on-line model servers, Ramp Manager and Editor, and present operational experience with the system.