Stanford Linear Accelerator Center- Laser Source Protection and Access Control

Stanford’s Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) has built a safety and notification system for the variety of laser source equipment that is used at SLAC. The laser source safety configuration is designed with two major levels of protection; Access Control and Laser Source Protection. Pilz’s PNOZ Multi is used to monitor the status of the safety sensors and access control modules that are in place around the laser sources. The laser source itself is contained in a Laser Source area with entrances through various access doors and covers/flaps; these access points are all monitored using the Pilz PSENmag sensors. The PSENmag sensor status are monitored with a PNOZmulti, a Device Net Module is added to the system for annunciation of the safety system’s status. The access to the various laser sources and control areas while monitored by the PNOZmulti are used in conjunction with the Device Net Module, this allows those working in the Laser Source area to manage the status of access points to the laser. As part of the monitoring system, Pilz E-STOP pushbutton PIT is used to shutdown components during maintenance or configuration of the laser source or enclosure areas. The combination of safety products that SLAC has implemented thus far gives the several benefits from a safety design standpoint; the component nature of the system design itself, allows for a high degree of flexibility and reconfiguration allowing for the system to grow/change with minimal downtime. Additionally, the use of PNOZmulti monitors the amount of wiring involved in installation makes the safety system itself more economical. Finally, system status and safety diagnostics can be completed through use of a fieldbus as opposed to manual inspection, giving the system higher level of system integrity and accuracy. SLAC has plans to expand the safety system to create a more robust and efficient system for other areas of the SLAC research tools and equipment.

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is home to a two-mile linear accelerator—the longest in the world. Originally a particle physics research center, SLAC is now a multipurpose laboratory for astrophysics, photon science, accelerator and particle physics research. Six scientists have been awarded the Nobel Prize for work carried out at SLAC and the future of the laboratory promises to be just as extraordinary.