INTEGRATION OF SYMBOLIC COMPUTING IN ACCELERATOR CONTROL

Modern symbolic computing programs address not only the manipulation o f mathematical functions, but also process control. Symbolic computing can thus be a powerful tool for developing algorithmic engines that c an be fully integrated in the controls environment and facilitates mod ular design of control systems. This technique has been applied to a s pecial class of accelerator problems, namely the beam steering in tran sfer lines and accelerator rings in the CERN PS Complex. An optimizer for beam trajectories has first been developed off line then linked on line to process interface routines for prototyping. A beam optics pro gram with a full graphics environment and symbolic functions was used to generate necessary information for the optimizer. An application pr ogram has then been written to integrate the system into the controls environment.