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Description
Equipment at the high-voltage terminal of the main acceleration section of a megavolt-grade tandem accelerator operates inside an SF₆‑filled pressure vessel at 0.607‑0.709 MPa (approximately 7 atm). High-voltage fluctuations and spark‑over events inside the accelerator generate intense electromagnetic radiation, and off-the-shelf signal-conversion devices cannot adapt to such harsh conditions. At present, the accelerator adopts a conventional control scheme in which an insulating rod is driven by a ground-potential motor. This scheme suffers from outdated technical approaches, high manufacturing costs for mechanical structures, and an inability to monitor the operating status of terminal-mounted equipment, significantly limiting safe and stable accelerator operation. Taking a 6 MV tandem accelerator as the research object, this paper develops an opto-electronic communication unit adapted to the extreme operating environment of the accelerator via electrical-to-optical signal conversion. Bidirectional communication between field devices and an EPICS‑based host computer is realized through an optical-fiber link. By simulating the accelerator electric‑field environment and developing dedicated signal-processing and protection circuits, precise monitoring and reliable control of various device signals are achieved. Test results show that the opto-electronic communication unit exhibits good compatibility with the 6 MV tandem accelerator, meets the requirements for long-term stable accelerator operation, and enhances the safety and stability of equipment operation.
