The proposed RF distribution scheme for the two 15 km long ILC LINACs uses one klystron to feed 26 superconducting RF cavities operating at 1.3 GHz. For a precise control of the vector sum of the signals coming from the SC cavities, the control system needs a high-performance, low-cost, reliable and modular multichannel receiver. At Fermilab we developed a 96-channel, 1.3 GHz analog/digital receiver for the ILC LINAC LLRF control system. In this paper we present a balanced design approach to the specifications of each receiver section, the design choices made to fulfill the goals and a description of the prototyped system. The design is tested by measuring standard performance parameters, such as noise figure, linearity and temperature sensitivity. Measurements show that the design meets the specifications and it is comparable to other similar systems developed at other laboratories, in terms of performance.

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Design and evaluation of a low-level RF control system analog/digital receiver for the ILC main Linacs

The field control of multiple superconducting RF cavities with a single Klystron, such as the proposed RF scheme for the ILC, requires high density (number of RF channels) signal processing hardware so that vector control may be implemented with minimum group delay. The MFC (Multichannel Field Control) module is a 33- channel, FPGA based down-conversion and signal processing board in a single VXI slot, with 4 channels of high speed DAC outputs. A 32-bit, 400MHz floating point DSP provides additional computational and control capability for calibration and implementation of more complex control algorithms. Multiple high speed serial transceivers on the front panel and the backplane bus allow a flexible architecture for inter-module real time data exchanges. An interface CPLD supports the VXI bus protocol for communication to a SlotO CPU, with Ethernet connections for remote in system programming of the FPGA and DSP as well as data acquisition.

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Multichannel vector field control module for LLRF control of superconducting cavities

Advanced topics on RF amplitude and phase detection for low-level RF systems

The High Intensity Neutrino Source (HINS) R&D program requires super conducting single spoke resonators operating at 325 MHz (SSR1) [1]. After coupler installation, these cavities are tested at the HINS-SRF facility at Fermilab. The LLRF requirements for these tests include support for continuous wave and pulsed mode operations, with the ability to track the resonance frequency of the tested cavity. Real-time measurement of the cavity loaded Q and Q0 are implemented using gradient decay techniques, allowing for Q0 versus Eacc plots. A real time cavity simulator was also developed to test the LLRF system and verify its functionality. LLRF SYSTEM OVERVIEW The LLRF system is depicted in Fig. 1. The 325 MHz RF reference is provided by a signal generator (Aeroflex IFR 2023A), for tunability. The master oscillator and local oscillator chassis distributes the 325 MHz reference signal and generates the 338 MHz LO. The LO is obtained by mixing the 325 MHz RF signal with a 13 MHz intermediate frequency (IF), internally generated by dividing the 325 MHz reference by 25. This allows the LO to track the RF signal when it is tuned to match the cavity resonance frequency.

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LLRF Design for the HINS-SRF Test Facility at Fermilab

The key to a successful LLRF design for the International Linear Collider (ILC) relies on a combined effort from the different laboratories involved in this global project. This paper covers the ILC LLRF design progress both long term and for current test facilities around the world. The SIMCON controller board, originally developed at DESY has been successfully used at FNAL to control superconducting capture cavity I and II. LLRF team leaders from DESY, KEK and FNAL have worked together toward a common design and costing estimate for the ILC LLRF. This paper gives a general overview of the LLRF development achieved through continuous collaboration and communication between the various labs involved in the ILC LLRF design process.

Survey of LLRF development for the ILC

The present configuration of an ILC main LINAC RF station has 26 nine cell cavities driven from one klystron. With the addition of waveguide power coupler monitors, 96 RF signals will be down-converted and processed. A down-converter chassis is being developed that contains 12 eight-channel analog modules and a single up- converter module. This chassis will first be deployed for testing a cryomodule composed of eight cavities located at New Muon Laboratory (NML) - Fermilab. Critical parts of the design for LLRF applications are identified and a detailed description of the circuit with various characteristic measurements is presented. The board is composed of an input band-pass filter centered at 1.3 GHz, followed by a mixer, which down-converts the cavity probe signal to a proposed 13 MHz intermediate frequency. Cables with 8 channels per connector and good isolation between channels are being used to interconnect each down-converter module with a digital board. As mixers, amplifiers and power splitters are the most sensitive parts for noise, nonlinearities and crosstalk issues, special attention is given to these parts in the design of the LO port multiplication and distribution.

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E. Cullerton

Papers

A 96 channel receiver for the ILCTA LLRF system at fermilab