Van de Graaff Voltage Regulation via PID Control

Efficient operation of the Gettysburg College 250 keV Van de Graaff proton accelerator depends upon steady dome voltages to maintain beam at desirable energies (50 - 200 keV); all current and future research necessitates reliable beam. Since our proton beam runs through an analyzing magnet, voltage fluctuations impact available beam on target. To compensate a novel Arduino control system utilizing dome and slit feedback signals has been implemented, complete with operator and PID controls as well as live visual feedback on a graphical user interface.