Speaker
Description
At the fusion experiment ASDEX Upgrade numerous subsystems contribute to plasma discharges (e.g. more than a hundred data acquisition systems). These systems need to operate time-synchronous for successful discharges and a common time base is necessary for the evaluation of measurement data. The current timing system was based on custom build hardware, as no off-the-shelf solution was available at that time. Maintaining this hardware gets increasingly difficult, as many of its electronic components are no longer in stock and finding spare parts or suitable replacements is becoming difficult. Today, network based time synchronization can achieve sub-nanosecond accuracy using the Precision Time Protocol and Synchronous Ethernet or White Rabbit. So with a scheduled renewal of the network infrastructure it was decided to migrate to network based time synchronization. However, due to tight schedules between experimental campaigns, as well as hardware being in operation, that can not be retrofitted to support network based time synchronization, it is not possible to replace the whole timing system at once. Starting with the upcoming 2026 campaign, network based time synchronization will be offered in parallel to the existing timing system, instead. For successful operation, both time domains need to stay synchronous within the 20 nanosecond time resolution of the hardware timing system. This contribution addresses the approach that was implemented to achieve the required synchronization. In addition, an outlook on future work for the integration of non-retrofittable systems will be given. Together, this enables the step-wise replacement of the current timing system.
| Minioral | Yes |
|---|---|
| IEEE Member | No |
| Are you a student? | No |