LANL, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA
The Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) linear accelerator drives five user facilities: Isotope Production, Proton Radiography, Ultra-Cold Neutrons, Weapons Neutron Research, and Neutron Scattering. In 2011, we started an ambitious project to refurbish key elements of the LANSCE accelerator that have become obsolete or were near end-of-life. The control system went through an upgrade process that affected different areas of LANSCE. Many improvements have been made but funding challenges and LANSCE operational commitments have delayed project deliverables. In this paper, we will discuss our upgrade choices, what we have accomplished so far, what we have learned about upgrading the existing control system and what challenges we still face.
LANL, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA
Los Alamos National Laboratory has defined a new signature science facility, Matter-Radiation Interactions in Extremes (MaRIE) that builds on the existing capabilities of the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE). It will be the first multi-probe materials research center to combine high-energy, high-repetition-rate, coherent x-rays with electron and proton-beam charged-particle imaging to perform in-situ measurements of a sample in extreme environments. At its core, a 42-keV XFEL will be coupled with the LANSCE MW proton accelerator. A pre-conceptual design for MaRIE has been established. Technical risk reduction for the project includes an injector test-stand that is currently being designed. New accelerators are either planned, under construction, or currently in operation around the world, providing opportunities for the MaRIE project to leverage the instrumentation & controls (I&C) efforts of these facilities to minimize non-recurring engineering costs. This paper discusses possible MaRIE I&C system implementation choices and trade-offs, and also provides an overview of the proposed MaRIE facilities and the current design.