Controls and Machine Protection Systems

Machine protection, as part of accelerator control systems, can be managed with a ‘functional safety’ approach, which takes into account product life cycle, processes, quality, industrial standards and cybersafety. This paper will discuss strategies to manage such complexity and the related risks, with particular attention to fail-safe design and safety integrity levels, software and hardware standards, testing, and verification philosophy. It will also discuss an implementation of a machine protection system at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory’s Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS).