aida - cern · 2014-02-12 · aida-ms31 aida advanced european infrastructures for detectors at...

AIDA-MS31

AIDAAdvanced European Infrastructures for Detectors at Accelerators

Milestone Report

Installation of new equipment

Glaser, M (CERN) et al

19 August 2013

The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Commissionunder the FP7 Research Infrastructures project AIDA, grant agreement no. 262025.

This work is part of AIDA Work Package 8: Improvement and equipment of irradiationand test beam lines.

The electronic version of this AIDA Publication is available via the AIDA web site<http://cern.ch/aida> or on the CERN Document Server at the following URL:

<http://cds.cern.ch/search?p=AIDA-MS31>

AIDA-MS31

http://cern.ch/aida

http://cds.cern.ch/search?p=AIDA-MS31

Grant Agreement No: 262025

AIDA Advanced European Infrastructures for Detectors at Accelerators

Seventh Framework Programme, Capaci t ies Spec i f ic Programme, Research In f rast ructu res,

Combinat ion of Col laborat ive Pro ject and Coord inat ion and Support Act ion

MILESTONE REPORT

INSTALLATION OF NEW EQUIPMENT

MILESTONE: MS31

Document identifier: AIDA-MS31

Due date of milestone: End of Month 26

Report release date: 01/08/2013

Work package: WP8: Improvement and equipment of irradiation and

beam lines

Lead beneficiary: CERN

Document status:

Abstract:

CERN is constructing a new irradiation facility in the PS (Proton Synchrotron) EAST AREA. The facility will contain a proton and a mixed irradiation field facility and is planned to be operational in 2015. Part of the infrastructure of the proton irradiation facility is produced in the framework of the AIDA project. This document reports about a series of irradiation tables that will serve to place different objects under test into the proton beam for irradiation experiments.

Copyright notice:

Movable irradiation tables operational

Doc. Identifier:

AIDA-MS31-WP8 3

Date: 01/08/2013

Grant Agreement 262025 PUBLIC 2 / 8

Copyright © AIDA Consortium, 2012.

For more information on AIDA, its partners and contributors please see www.cern.ch/AIDA

The Advanced European Infrastructures for Detectors at Accelerators (AIDA) is a project co-funded by the

European Commission under FP7 Research Infrastructures, grant agreement no 262025. AIDA began in

February 2011 and will run for 4 years.

The information herein only reflects the views of its authors and not those of the European Commission and no

warranty expressed or implied is made with regard to such information or its use.

Delivery Slip

Name Partner Date

Authored by M.Glaser, M.Moll, F.Ravotti CERN 24.7.2013

Edited by M.Moll CERN 1.8.2013

Reviewed by

M Moll [WP coordinator]

G.Mazzitelli [WP coordinator]

L. Serin [Scientific coordinator]

CERN 15.8.2013

Approved by Steering Committee 19.8.2013

http://www.cern.ch/AIDA


Doc. Identifier:

AIDA-MS31-WP8 3

Date: 01/08/2013


A new proton and mixed field irradiation facility in the CERN PS EAST AREA

In the CERN PS EAST AREA irradiation experiments are performed with 23 GeV protons

since 1999. Initially only a few experiments were performed per year, while the demand over

more recent years has significantly increased. In total more than 8100 objects have been

irradiated in the time period 1999-2012 demonstrating clearly the strong need for irradiation

experiments to qualify and test detector and accelerator components and materials for the

use in high intensity accelerators like the LHC. With the intention to upgrade the LHC

luminosity the requirements for radiation hardness have become more stringent generating a

further increased demand for proton irradiation experiments and the need for reaching higher

integrated particle fluxes (~1016-1017 p/cm2). Taking into account the increased number of

irradiation requests and the demand for higher particle fluxes as well as the possibility to

irradiate larger objects, the existing facilities in the EAST HALL were suffering from a number

of restrictions such as the space availability, a limited proton flux and a limited accessibility.

In addition a need for a strong mixed radiation facility was identified to test and validate

electronic systems for the LHC and its upgrade.

To satisfy these requirements, the joint efforts of both the CERN PH and EN department in

the framework of the AIDA project, brought forward the proposal for the upgrade of the East

Area Irradiation Facilities (EA-IRRAD). The proposal, approved in 2012, consisted in moving

the old proton facility on the T8 beam line and exploiting the area previously occupied by the

DIRAC experiment which completed its data-taking period at the end of the same year. The

construction project has now started. As shown in Figure 1, the new proton irradiation area is

being installed at the former location of the DIRAC target, while the new mixed-field area will

be upgraded downstream of the proton one.

Figure 1: Layout of the EA-IRRAD Irradiation Facilities (proton & mixed-field) on the T8 beam of the CERN East

Area after LS1 [3D Model courtesy of M. Lazzaroni, D. Brethoux – EN/MEF]. The proton beam is entering the

facility complex from the left side and passes the shuttle system and 3 irradiation table stations of the proton

irradiation facility. After having passed the proton facility the beam enters into the mixed field facility where objects

(indicated by the three green cuboids) are exposed to a wide spectrum of different particles.


Doc. Identifier:

AIDA-MS31-WP8 3

Date: 01/08/2013


The layout of the new facility has several advantages, namely:

1. the access to the facility is independent of the rest of the PS East Area;

2. the layout is optimised for exploitation as an irradiation facility, with appropriate shielding,

ventilation, dedicated infrastructure and sufficient space for a proper installation and easy

accessibility of the equipment;

3. the same protons can be used for both the proton and mixed field-area in parallel. This led

to an optimal use of available protons to reach (in standard irradiation conditions) particle

fluence about 4 times higher than in the old proton area.

The CERN PH/DT AIDA team is working on the proton facility area: here a new shuttle

system, cloned from the previous IRRAD1 and IRRAD2, will be installed together with a

series of remote-controlled tables for the irradiation of large samples, detector components

and prototypes. It will be possible to perform irradiations experiments on these tables also

with samples maintained at low temperature (up to -15°C) and on powered equipment. The

irradiation tables will be located in three separated shielded zones (~3×5m2 each) in order to

minimise the impact of particle scattering during irradiation as well as to reduce the

radiological impact to the personnel accessing the irradiation area. Finally, the proton facility

will be also equipped with a cryostat that is fed with liquid Helium to allow special irradiations

at cryogenic temperature down to 1.8K.

The CERN EN team is focusing his work on the mixed-field facility area: there the particles

coming from the upstream proton area interacts here with a 50cm long target of high-Z

material. The resulting mixed particle field is optimized to reproduce the radiation

environment of the LHC tunnel and the typical shielded areas of the CERN accelerator

complex. A series of remote-controlled systems, currently under design, will position the

equipment to be tested (power converters, beam instrumentation electronics, magnet

components, etc.) inside the irradiation area of about 5×5m2.

The disassembly of the DIRAC experiment and of the old PH Irradiation Facilities in the PS

East Area is currently on-going. This is expected to be completed by summer 2013. Next

step will be the assembly of the new radiation shielding according to the new facility layout by

the EN/MEF team which is responsible for the general infrastructure within the experimental

area. Finally, the installation and commissioning of the new irradiation equipment will take

place in the first semester 2014 with the goal to begin the exploitation of the new irradiation

facility for the users of the PH experiments and the accelerator equipment owners at the end

of LS1 during summer 2014.


Doc. Identifier:

AIDA-MS31-WP8 3

Date: 01/08/2013


The movable irradiation tables

In the heart of the new proton irradiation facility a series of motorized irradiation tables will

serve to place the objects under test into and out of the proton beam. As can be seen from

Figure 2, three table stations for irradiations are foreseen. The stations are almost identical,

while the objects that are going to be irradiated in the 3 stations are organized in order of

their radiation length. Very light materials, like e.g. silicon sensors, will be placed in the first

station, while the last station is foreseen to hold heavy materials (e.g. calorimeter

components) generating a significant amount of secondary radiation. Each of the 3 stations

will be composed of 3 individual tables mounted on a rail system (see Figure.2).

Figure 2: Drawing of a table station with 4 individual tables mounted on a rail system. Note that the system to be

implemented in the facility will hold 3 individual tables and not 4 as shown on this drawing.

Each of the tables is motorized with 2 linear axes (x-y) orthogonal to the beam axis and a rotational axis (theta) along the centre of the table foot. The y-axis (moving the table up and

down) has been realized with an AC motor with a precision of 400m while the other axes are controlled by stepping motors. A drawing of a table is given in Figure 3 and some technical specifications are summarized in Table 1. The tables are designed to hold up to 50 Kg and allow for scanning objects in a 20x20 cm2 (x-y) field through the proton beam for homogeneous irradiations. Furthermore, not only the x- and y- axis motors can be used for

scanning but also the motor for the position. Long-term tests have been performed on all

axes to proof that scans over the full ranges given in Table 1 can be performed over weeks without problems.

Axis Range Precision Speed

X 315 mm 100m 50 mm/s (1kg)

10 mm/s (50kg)

Y 400 mm 400 m 12 mm/s

+/- 90° 0.01° 5°/s

Table 1: Technical specifications of the table.


Doc. Identifier:

AIDA-MS31-WP8 3

Date: 01/08/2013


Figure 3: Drawing of the table with its components.


Doc. Identifier:

AIDA-MS31-WP8 3

Date: 01/08/2013


Each table has its own standalone motor driver which is based on a TMC300 3 axis stepper motor controller module from Trinamic (DE). A complete motor controller system for one table is shown in Figure 4. It drives 3 stepping motors, the AC motor and has a temperature controller included for recording and/or controlling temperatures within the sample holder or sample cold box mounted on the table. As the table needs only 2 stepping motor controls, the driver has one additional control which can be used for an additional motorization. An example for such an application is shown in Figure 6, where the additional channel is used to control the barrel position of a rotating sample holder mounted on the table.

Figure 4: A motor controller system for one irradiation table.


Doc. Identifier:

AIDA-MS31-WP8 3

Date: 01/08/2013


Status of table construction and commissioning

3 prototype tables with 2 and 3 movable axes have been constructed and successfully tested

in situ at the proton irradiation facility at CERN and the pion beam line at the PSI (Paul

Scherrer Institute, Villigen, CH). Figures 5 and 6 give examples of such irradiation tests.

Figure 5: Cold box mounted on an irradiation table. In this

experiment silicon detectors have been exposed in a cold

environment to the proton beam.

Figure 6:. Rotating support structure for irradiation of 12

scintillating crystals mounted on an irradiation table

(rotating support structure was constructed in

collaboration with PH-CMX).

The experience gathered with these tables was used to improve the design of the tables and

the control system. Furthermore, it was decided to add the possibility to rotate the table head

around the axes given by the centre of the table foot in order to facilitate the alignment

towards the beam line. The design was finalized (see Figure 3) and one table with the final

design was constructed and tested. The table is working to expectations in the laboratory and

now waiting for its installation in the new proton irradiation facility at CERN. All mechanical

pieces for the construction of 6 further tables and nearly all corresponding electronic

components for the 6 table motor drivers have been produced or purchased. However, the

assembly of the 6 tables and motor drivers was postponed due to the lower priority given

towards the construction of the tables with respect to the construction of the irradiation facility

itself. In any case the first assembled table of the new generation is fully operational.

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