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CERN’s Antiproton Decelerator (AD) has been re-furbished to provide reliable operation for the Extra Low ENergy Antiproton ring (ELENA). In particular, AD was equipped with a new digital Low-Level RF (LLRF) system that was successfully commissioned during the summer 2021. The new AD LLRF system has routinely captured and decelerated more than 3·10⁷ antiprotons from 3.5 GeV/c to 100 MeV/c in successive steps, referred to as RF segments, interleaved by cooling periods. The LLRF system implements the frequency program from Btrain data received over optical fiber. Beam phase/radial and cavity amplitude/phase feedback loops are operated during each RF segment. An extraction synchronization loop is triggered on the extraction RF segment to transfer a single bunch of antiprotons to ELENA. Extensive diagnostics features are available and operational modes such as bunched beam cooling and bunch rotation have been successfully deployed. The LLRF parameters can be different for each RF segment and are controlled by a dedicated application. This paper gives an overview of the AD LLRF beam commissioning results obtained and challenges overcome. Hints on future steps are also provided., Proceedings of the 13th International Particle Accelerator Conference, IPAC2022, Bangkok, Thailand

As part of the LHC Injectors Upgrade, the CERN Proton Synchrotron Booster (PSB) has been upgraded with new wide-band Finemet cavities and a renovated Low-Level Radio Frequency system with digital cavity controllers implemented in FPGAs. Each controller synchronously receives the computed revolution frequency, used to generate 16 harmonic references. These are then used to IQ demodulate the voltage gap and modulate the 16 RF drive signals each controlled through a Cartesian feedback loop (with individual voltage and phase control). The sum of these digital drive signals is then sent to the cavities. In addition, a configurable blow-up system providing a sinusoidal or custom noise pattern can be used to excite the beam. An embedded network analyzer allows studying the stability of the feedback loops of the individual harmonics. The 16 harmonic feedback loops have been successfully operated during 2021, allowing to reduce the beam induced voltage and control the longitudinal emittance of the beam. In this paper we present the system architecture as well as the performance of the complete cavity controller during operation in the PSB., Proceedings of the 13th International Particle Accelerator Conference, IPAC2022, Bangkok, Thailand

To provide HL-LHC performance, the CERN LHC injector chain underwent a major upgrade during an almost 2-year-long shutdown. In the first half of 2021 the injectors were gradually re-started with the aim to reach at least pre-shutdown parameters for LHC as well as for fixed target beams. The strategy of the commissioning across the complex, a summary of the many challenges and finally the achievements will be presented. Several lessons were learned and have been integrated to define the strategy for the performance ramp-up over the coming years. Remaining limitations and prospects for LHC beam parameters at the exit of the LHC injector chain in the years to come will be discussed. Finally, the emerging need for improved operability of the CERN complex will be addressed, with a description of the first efforts to meet the availability and flexibility requirements of the HL-LHC era while at the same time maximizing fixed target physics output., Proceedings of the 13th International Particle Accelerator Conference, IPAC2022, Bangkok, Thailand

The PS Booster (PSB) is the first synchrotron in the injection chain for protons. The beams produced for the LHC and various fixed target experiments cover a very large parameter space. Over the Long Shutdown 2 (LS2), the PSB was heavily upgraded as part of the LHC Injectors Upgrade (LIU) project. The low-level RF systems now drive the new Finemet-loaded cavities, control RF synchronisation for the new injection mechanism, and cope with the increased injection and extraction energies. The Finemet cavities provide exceptional flexibility, allowing an arbitrary distribution of voltage at different revolution frequency harmonics, but at the cost of significant broadband impedance. The new injection mechanism allows bunch-to-bucket multi-turn injection, which significantly reduces the amount of beam loss at the start of the cycle. The longitudinal beam production schema for each beam-type was developed based on simulations during LS2, and then adapted during the setting-up phase to suit the final operational configuration. This paper discusses the commissioning of the new LLRF, and the consequences of the LIU upgrades on the production of various beams., Proceedings of the 13th International Particle Accelerator Conference, IPAC2022, Bangkok, Thailand

Over CERN’s Long Shutdown 2, the conventional ferrite-loaded cavities of the PS Booster were replaced with wide-band Finemet-loaded cavities. The Finemet cavities bring many operational advantages, but also represent a significant broadband impedance source. The impedance is mitigated by servo loops, which suppress the induced voltage, reducing the impedance as seen by the beam. Accurately including the impedance of the cavity and the effect of the servoloops in longitudinal tracking simulations is essential to predict the performance with beam. This paper discusses the results of a measurement campaign, which is intended to give a direct measurement of the cavity impedance. Using the detected voltage and the measured beam profile, the cavity impedance can be inferred and used to improve beam dynamics modelling., Proceedings of the 13th International Particle Accelerator Conference, IPAC2022, Bangkok, Thailand