The preliminary laser control system for the TRIUMF optically pumped polarized ion source

A system to provide detailed information on control parameters for the lasers used in the optically pumped polarized ion source at TRIUMF has been constructed. The authors describe the overall structure of the system and give details of the instrumentation used. Test and control programs to operate some of the devices and implement a slow spin-flipping operation have been developed and run on the workstation. During initial tests laser beam positions were found to be more stable than expected, and the requirement for controlling mirror motors and beam position detectors has been dropped from the final system. Laser frequency drift was less in the temperature-controlled laser room than in initial tests