Conversion of the CERN PS Booster Controls: Local Hardware Test and Accelerator Study Facilities

The CERN PS Booster (PSB) has been connected to the new computer control system (NORD-CAMAC) during the four months´ shutdown in summer and autumn 1980. Subsequently the PSB had to furnish beams of high quality, particularly for the Antiproton Accumulator (AA). To make the change-over efficient and possible within the time and manpower limitations, local autonomous microcomputer-aided test facilities were used for more than a year. These were designed (i) for the development of process equipment including its electronics, (ii) for equipment commissioning, (iii) for fault diagnosis and (iv) for the improvement of the future machine performances. The specifications, the detailed implementation and the results are reported.