Optical Fibre Analysis System (OASYS)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Liverpool
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
The OASYS project aims to produce commercially viable proof-of-concept results for two advanced machine protection applications of an existing optical fibre beam loss monitor (oBLM) device. An oBLM consists of a series of optical fibres run down the length of an accelerator structure (e.g. a beamline). When beam losses occur within the structure, showers of charged particles are produced. When these particles cross the optical fibres they produce Cherenkov radiation. This radiation propagates down the fibres and is detected by a Silicon PhotoMultiplier (SiPM) with specialised high-speed readout electronics. This signal provides time-of-flight information on the source loss point, allowing it to be located to within ~10 cm along the accelerator structure; a resolution unprecedented within existing loss monitoring technologies. This device has already been implemented at several international accelerator facilities in collaboration with D-Beam Ltd. The OASYS project aims to extend the functionality and applicability of this emerging technology.
The two proposed oBLM-based applications are built upon slight variations on existing oBLM methodologies. The first, RF breakdown detection, has already been achieved with the oBLM at CLARA. OASYS will extend upon these preliminary results to provide verified proof-of-concept results benchmarked against existing technologies. The project will investigate improvements to fibre design, fibre placement and electronics design. The second methodology, superconducting quench detection, will require little alteration to the existing oBLM. OASYS will provide proof-of-concept results on this technique via investigations into fibre layout and signal analysis. The cohesion of significant experience in the use of the oBLM and two innovative concepts will provide a single commercially successful device. These techniques will be developed in an optics laboratory at first, before being implemented at accelerator facilities.
The research project will also produce a machine learning-based analysis suite. This software will have the potential to perform automated machine optimisation and machine protection.
A market for OASYS has already been assessed. Initially, the focus will be on supplying to synchrotron light sources (>50 facilities worldwide), as these are user-focused facilities and are continuously looking for innovative technologies to improve their user services. A further aim of this project is to prove the applicability of these technologies at linear accelerators. If this can be achieved it will open up the potential market to the 30,000+ linear accelerators worldwide. This would ensure the longevity of this technology. The market potential of any further applications identified during the project will also be assessed. These will be incorporated into the existing market analysis conducted on behalf of D-Beam and the proposer's group (Qi3, April 2019).
The company D-Beam Ltd. will be involved throughout this project, helping to assess the requirements of producing commercial products from the research outcomes. The proposer also has pre-existing collaborations with further relevant companies, which will all provide support in specific areas throughout the project.
The outcome of this project will be a commercially viable OASYS device for particle beam diagnostics, with a well-defined route-to-market and a long term plan for sustainability.
The two proposed oBLM-based applications are built upon slight variations on existing oBLM methodologies. The first, RF breakdown detection, has already been achieved with the oBLM at CLARA. OASYS will extend upon these preliminary results to provide verified proof-of-concept results benchmarked against existing technologies. The project will investigate improvements to fibre design, fibre placement and electronics design. The second methodology, superconducting quench detection, will require little alteration to the existing oBLM. OASYS will provide proof-of-concept results on this technique via investigations into fibre layout and signal analysis. The cohesion of significant experience in the use of the oBLM and two innovative concepts will provide a single commercially successful device. These techniques will be developed in an optics laboratory at first, before being implemented at accelerator facilities.
The research project will also produce a machine learning-based analysis suite. This software will have the potential to perform automated machine optimisation and machine protection.
A market for OASYS has already been assessed. Initially, the focus will be on supplying to synchrotron light sources (>50 facilities worldwide), as these are user-focused facilities and are continuously looking for innovative technologies to improve their user services. A further aim of this project is to prove the applicability of these technologies at linear accelerators. If this can be achieved it will open up the potential market to the 30,000+ linear accelerators worldwide. This would ensure the longevity of this technology. The market potential of any further applications identified during the project will also be assessed. These will be incorporated into the existing market analysis conducted on behalf of D-Beam and the proposer's group (Qi3, April 2019).
The company D-Beam Ltd. will be involved throughout this project, helping to assess the requirements of producing commercial products from the research outcomes. The proposer also has pre-existing collaborations with further relevant companies, which will all provide support in specific areas throughout the project.
The outcome of this project will be a commercially viable OASYS device for particle beam diagnostics, with a well-defined route-to-market and a long term plan for sustainability.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Carsten Welsch (Principal Investigator) | |
| Narender Kumar (Researcher) |
Publications
King M
(2025)
A Systematic Investigation of Beam Losses and Position-Reconstruction Techniques Measured with a Novel oBLM at CLEAR
in Instruments
Wolfenden J
(2023)
Cherenkov Radiation in Optical Fibres as a Versatile Machine Protection System in Particle Accelerators.
in Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
| Description | During the OASYS project several key objectives were achieved. First and foremost was demonstrating the use of the device to measure two different machine protection-related phenomena. The significance of this result was that a single device had been used, without alteration. The results of these measurements have been published in a high quality journal article since the completion of OASYS. This article highlighted the work targeting beam loss and RF breakdown, two of the three applications initially proposed. The third, superconducting quench, was planned at a different facility but travel restrictions prevented the measurements from going ahead within the project timescale. A new analysis technique was developed which allows users to characterise individual signal sources with greater fidelity in multi-signal/loss events. Individual sources can now be extracted and analysed independently from the rest of the input signal. This analysis does not include machine learning as initially planned. As the data analysis work began, it became clear that the device would ultimately benefit from this type of signal extraction. These results will feed into future machine learning techniques to enhance any future automation and optimisation solutions. Finally, as travel was restricted and measurement plans could not be conducted as planned, work was undertaken to further improve the detection efficiency and performance of the existing device. The results have been a proof of concept system which has a 104 improvement in both sensitivity and resolution. Work has begun to package this new device in a similar form factor as the original. This will enable a new suite of measurements to be taken, improving upon existing beam loss and RF applications, and opening up new applications in new fields. To this end, a new proof of concept project has been running, which builds directly upon the outcomes of OASYS. This is investigating the use of an OASYS-type device to monitor RF breakdown in RF sources. This project, funded by an impact acceleration account, is in collaboration with D-Beam, a university spin out company focusing on instrumentation development, and Teledyne e2v, the largest manufacturer of these RF sources in the world. |
| Exploitation Route | We are currently exploring a range of options, including collaborations with STFC/ASTeC, e2v teledyne and AVO. |
| Sectors | Electronics Healthcare Other |
| Description | OASYS has formed part of an ongoing effort to commercialise this device and technology for the wider accelerator sector. Since the conclusion of OASYS this commercialisation effort has continued in collaboration with project industry partner, D-Beam. Discussions with both public and private entities have begun to provide several routes to investigate. The most direct application has been to large accelerator infrastructure. These facilities have the most to benefit from the outputs of OASYS due to the similarity of their operation to the test environment of the sensor. D-Beam is involved in fine tuning the device to this type of application. Success would provide both economic impact, in the form of economic success for D-Beam and the associated impact on UK economy, and societal impact, as the benefits provided by the new device would impact upon all the sectors these large-scale research institutions reach. A new area of impact being explored is in the large-scale manufacture of RF equipment. Our work has found that the conditioning procedures carried out on the production lines of companies in this sector would be a suitable candidate for the application of an OASYS-type device. Significant optimisations and efficiency gains could be achieved. This would directly impact upon the throughput of these production lines. Significant improvements could lead to economic gains as previously mentioned, also reduced end costs for users. As end users of this equipment are typically in the healthcare sector, these healthcare providers would spend less on equipment, freeing up funds to provide better care to patients. The new proof of concept measurements in collaboration with the private sector described in 'key findings' is contributing directly to this vision. Closer to academia, OASYS has directly led to several new research institutes considering an OASYS-type device into their construction plans. These plans are at various stages of fruition, but they demonstrate the impact these results have had on the wider accelerator community. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2021 |
| Sector | Electronics,Healthcare,Other |
| Impact Types | Economic |