High Accuracy Control of a Proton Synchrotron Magnet Power Supply

Abstract

A linear feedback control is applied in high accuracy tracking of a periodic reference input. Asymptotic tracking of an input with a given period is achieved by locating the imaginary poles of the controller's transfer function to suit the period of the input. A frequency-domain analysis of the transient and noise characteristics leads to a simple controller design principle. The method was applied to the computer control of the 27-MVA thyristor power supply to the three main ring magnets of a proton synchrotron. The 10-4 tracking accuracy required of the exciting current control was achieved after 16 cycles of a pulsed operation.