Design of the SNS Normal Conducting Linac RF Control System

The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) is being designed for operation in 2004. The SNS is a 1 GeV machine consisting of a combination normal-conducting and super-conducting linac as well as a ring and target area. The linac front end is a 402.5 MHz RFQ being developed by Lawrence Berkeley Lab. The DTL (at 402.5 MHz) and the CCL (at 805 MHz) stages are being developed by Los Alamos National Laboratory. The expected output energy of the DTL is 87 MeV and that of the CCL is 185 MeV. The RF control system under development for the linac is based on the Low Energy Demonstration Accelerator (LEDA) control system with some new features. This paper will discuss the new design approach and its benefits. Block diagrams and circuit specifics will be addressed. The normal conducting RF control system will be described in detail with references to the super-conducting control system where appropriate