LLRF SYSTEMS FOR MODERN LINACS: DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE

Near-future linac projects put yet unreached requirements on the LLRF control hardware in both performance and manageability. Meeting their field stability targets requires a clear identification of all critical items along the LLRF control loop as well as knowledge of fundamental limitations. Large-scale systems demand for extended automation concepts. The experience gained with present systems as well as dedicated experiments deliver the basis for a design of future systems. Digital hardware has evolved quickly over the past years and FPGAs became common not only in LLRF control. A high degree of digitization in various fields, as for example beam diagnostics, suggests to aim for a convergence of the digital platform designs. Channeling of efforts of different research laboratories may be the key to an affordable solution that meets all requirements and has a broad range of applications.