An Improved Control System for Van De Graaff Accelerators

In an effort to improve the energy stability and operating convenience of the Rutgers-Bell FN Tandem, a study has been made of the processes involved in the standard Van de Graaff corona stabilization system. In the light of these observations, a terminal voltage control system has been designed using error signals derived both from the slit system and the capacity pickoff plates. The system operates using either the standard slit system, or the machines' Generating Voltmeter as the terminal voltage reference, switching automatically to the G. V. system when beam is lost for any reason.