A low-cost slow control system for the PandaX-4T experiment

AbstractBackgroundThe PandaX-4T experiment is a next-generation dark matter search program located in the China Jinping Underground Laboratory. To ensure the stability of the complex instrument during the planned operation, the status of the facility should be monitored continuously.PurposeThe paper reports the design of the slow control system for the experiment. The system is used to monitor the facility status and generate an alarm signal while the detector is in abnormal status.MethodsLow-cost hardware is employed for the distributed data collection. Python-based data collection program was developed. We also used the open source software for data storage, visualization and anomaly detection, so that the development of the system is simplified.ConclusionWe finally achieved a low-cost and robust slow control system for the prototype detector in short time. It is running well currently. The system will be integrated with the PandaX-4T facility in late 2019.