The laser starts at 93 KW.

This morning I operated the laser locked with the RF for 1h30 without any delock. All the machine was switch off.

All the system was very stable. Sometimes the 20 Hz perturbation was visible but no delocking.

In the afternoon I switched ON just the kikers and septum (with the Kikers delay of not giving perturbation for the synchro -8.561) and I do the same thing => The situation is exactely the same, all the system is very stable (but 20 Hz perturbations). NO deloking during 1h.

I change the delay between Kikers to -7.561 => exactely the same situation, all is very stable!!!!

In 3h of synchronized operation, NO delock at all with or without Kikers!!!

Conclusion no effect at all when juste pulsed element are switched ON.

Daniele

Today with Daniele, we tuned the potentiometer after the Laselock which drives the analog BW of the PID on the laser PZT,
and we tuned also the fast loop gain (with the rotary potentiometer dedicated to it) => the PID parameters have changed.

so, the recipies has changed => to be updated

the global observation with the x3 amplifier on the laser PZT channel, is the system is more noisy.
the maximum power for 33% amp ratio is now ~93kW instead of 97-98kW.

we tried this afternoon to do a long run with the RF and the FPC loops activated, but it seams that a lot of high frequency noise is present.
is it coming from the new parameters feedback setup or because of the electron machine which is ON ?

With optical attenuation + x3 amplifier on laser PZT channel + feedback tuning

Temporary recipie for  ~ 92kW power in the FP-cavity:
(in the previous scheme, without x3 laser PZT amp, a good lock was achieved for a PDH signal power noise ~ 70 mV rms)

• Alplhanov amplifier ratio : 34%
   
• Axis 18 position : +0016956 steps
   
• PID A (for laser/FPC lock) :

input : input a
P = 0.04
I = 0.0005
D = 0.48
Sign : positive
Sampling : fast
filter : off

• Search A :

criterion : input d
upper th. : 10V
lower th. : 0.03V
speed : 100V/s
relock mode : none
off mode : reset

• Output A :

range : 50%
offset : 5V

• PID B (for RF/FPC lock) :

input : input b
P = 1
I = 0.00005
D = 1
Sign : positive
Sampling : mid
filter : off

• Search B :

criterion : input c
upper th. : +0.4V
lower th. : -0.45V
speed : 1V/s
relock mode : none
off mode : reset

• Output B :

range : 50%
offset : 5V

this afternoon, I added the Gain = 2.8 amplifier at the output of the Laselock to drive the laser PZT.
the power supply of the board is disymetric to address the correct maximal dynamic range of the amplifier (~ 30V) and voltage drop (~ 2V) related to the power supply voltage.
so, the power supply is set to -2V / 32V which gives roughly 0-28V of dynamic range at the ouput for 0-10V at the input.

despite the additionnal noise added by the amplifier, we are able to lock easily, and reach ~ 93kW in the FPC for 33% amplifier ratio.
obviously, as the dynamic range of this PZT has been multiplied by ~3, it is much more comfortable to operate the motors.
but the overall stability seems a bit degraded... to be checked, as finding the right PID + fast loop gain is not easy.

=> to be done tomorow.

today, long run directly at full power (33% amplifier ratio) => 98kW in the FPC at the very begining of the run.
(P=0.05 / I=0.0005 / D=0.6)

10-40 min : almost misalignment effect (CEP did not change so much)
                   I increased 3 times the amplifier ratio to 34%, 35%, 36% to compensate the misalignment and keep the power almost constant.

then I did a full tuning (CEP + alignment)

45-110 min : misalignment effect after ~30min of warming up of the FPC => much more stable.
                    I corrected twice (@ 85min) the alignment to compensate a bit the power loss

globally, the FPC seems stable => all the lock losses come from the 20Hz noise and are recovered very quicly by the locking.
I never saw the high frequency noise which can produce long lock losses.

maybe it's time to add the gain x3 on the laser PZT channel to get some room on the 20Hz noise compensation.

Today with Daniele, we did 6 long runs at different power (23kW, 46kW, 66kW, 73kW, 92kW, 92kW)

All the lock loss in between these several runs are due to FPC locking parameters change.
most of the few lock losses during the stable power duration, are due to 20Hz oscillation noise or because we forgot to center properly the PZT in its range (operator faults).

the 4 first runs (23kW, 46kW, 66kW, 73kW) are using the PID : (P=0.1 / I=0.0015 / D=1.5) without the additionnal optical attenuator placed after the diffuser.

the 5th run (92kW) is using the PID : (P=0.1 / I=0.0015 / D=1.5) with the additionnal optical attenuator placed after the diffuser.

the 6th run (92kW) is using the PID : (P=0.05 / I=0.0005 / D=0.6) and obviously a different diffuser position) with the additionnal optical attenuator placed after the diffuser.

surprisingly, we never saw any high frequency noise during the day !

to be noticed : the electron machine was OFF / the day was sunny without wind / almost nobody was working in the bunker.

With optical attenuation only

For ~ 92kW power in the FP-cavity:

• Alplhanov amplifier ratio : 33%
   
• Axis 18 position : +0003768 steps
   
• PID A (for laser/FPC lock) :

input : input a
P = 0.1
I = 0.0015
D = 1.5
Sign : positive
Sampling : fast
filter : off

• Search A :

criterion : input d
upper th. : 10V
lower th. : 0.05V
speed : 100V/s
relock mode : none
off mode : hold

• Output A :

range : 50%
offset : 5V

• PID B (for RF/FPC lock) :

input : input b
P = 5
I = 0.0001
D = 1
Sign : negative
Sampling : mid
filter : off

• Search B :

criterion : input c
upper th. : 0.45V
lower th. : -0.45V
speed : 1V/s
relock mode : none
off mode : hold

• Output B :

range : 20%
offset : 5V

Today we did several long runs (~1h each) at ~23kW, 46kW, 66kW with different PID parameters which seems better.

P = 0.1
I  = 0.0015
D = 1.5

which implies a different fast loop gain.
For these new PID parameters, it was impossible to use 33% amplifier ratio => to much power on the PID at the diffuser limit (axis 18).
so, we added a NE02 optical attenuator on the mobile diffuser => we can't use the old recipies anymore.

For ~ 66kW power in the FP-cavity:

• Alplhanov amplifier ratio : 25%
   
• Axis 18 position : +0018369 steps
   
• PID A (for laser/FPC lock) :

input : input a
P = 0.1
I = 0.0016
D = 1.4
Sign : positive
Sampling : fast
filter : off

• Search A :

criterion : input d
upper th. : 10V
lower th. : 0.03V
speed : 100V/s
relock mode : none
off mode : hold

• Output A :

range : 50%
offset : 5V

• PID B (for RF/FPC lock) :

input : input b
P = 5
I = 0.0001
D = 1
Sign : negative
Sampling : mid
filter : off

• Search B :

criterion : input c
upper th. : 0.45V
lower th. : -0.45V
speed : 1V/s
relock mode : none
off mode : hold

• Output B :

range : 20%
offset : 5V

long run today at relatively nominal power (~90kW) with double loop (FPC + RF) between 13:30am and 6:30pm

long run yesterday at relatively low power (~23kW) with double loop (FPC + RF) between 10am and 6pm

We had a long run without any lock loss during ~1h with the 23kW recipie in the morning.
during the afternoon, we had some few lock losses but the FPC system was globally quiet and stable,
but at the end of the day, I observed more and more frequent high frequency noise which implies lock losses.

at the same time, Dalkia changed the temperature of the air flow in the bunker.
could it be the reason of the stability degradation or is it because the cavity is more unstable when hot ?

For ~ 23kW power in the FP-cavity:

• Alplhanov amplifier ratio : 15%
   
• Axis 18 position : -0016014 steps
   
• PID A (for laser/FPC lock) :

input : input a
P = 0.1
I = 0.0016
D = 1.4
Sign : positive
Sampling : fast
filter : off

• Search A :

criterion : input d
upper th. : 10V
lower th. : 0.03V
speed : 100V/s
relock mode : none
off mode : hold

• Output A :

range : 50%
offset : 5V

• PID B (for RF/FPC lock) :

input : input b
P = 5
I = 0.0001
D = 1
Sign : negative
Sampling : mid
filter : off

• Search B :

criterion : input c
upper th. : 0.45V
lower th. : -0.45V
speed : 1V/s
relock mode : none
off mode : hold

• Output B :

range : 20%
offset : 5V

For ~ 46kW power in the FP-cavity:

• Alplhanov amplifier ratio : 20%
   
• Axis 18 position : -0004710 steps
   
• PID A (for laser/FPC lock) :

input : input a
P = 0.06
I = 0.0007
D = 0.85
Sign : positive
Sampling : fast
filter : off

• Search A :

criterion : input d
upper th. : 10V
lower th. : 0.04V
speed : 100V/s
relock mode : none
off mode : hold

• Output A :

range : 50%
offset : 5V

• PID B (for RF/FPC lock) :

input : input b
P = 3
I = 0.00002
D = 2
Sign : negative
Sampling : mid
filter : off

• Search B :

criterion : input c
upper th. : 0.45V
lower th. : -0.45V
speed : 1V/s
relock mode : none
off mode : hold

• Output B :

range : 20%
offset : 5V

New locking parameters (I got 98kW for 33% amp ratio) :

Axis 18 position : +0009420
P = 0.05
I = 0.0005
D = 0.6

stability seems better than previous parameters.

4.3 - Vibrations of the mirror mounts due to temperature related to cavity power (the electrons machine is OFF)

1) to test this possible issue, we plan to make a run at low power in the FP-cavity, around 10kW, instead of ~90kW as usual.
for that, I will need to change the diffuser position on axis 18 to get the same error signal for the locking.
the initial axis 18 position is +11304

I used the Alphanov amplifier at its standard value : 33%

first, I did a step at 26kW in the FPC by tuning the CEP
at this power, I saw exactly the same kind of behavior with a sudden large high frequency noise which prevent the lock to run properly and which is impossible to compensate.
=> one just have to wait... until it becomes more stable.

then, I went to 13kW in the FPC by tuning the CEP.

• I did the same alignement optimisation than for high power to remove possible coupling to high order modes in the error signal
• I tuned the power in the FPC by changing the CEP => the equivalent LW of the cavity will be different => I got ~ 13kW
• I changed the diffuser position on axis 18 to -23079
• I tuned the PID parameters :

initial => final
P = 0.055 => 0.1
I = 0.0005 => 0.002
D = 0.6 => 1

I started to record a long trend of the FPC power => see attached picture

I still observed the ~20Hz noise and sometime some high frequency noise, but not at a level which prevents the locking system to work.
CONCLUSION :
at this power and with a larger LW (CEP is not optimized), the FPC seems much more stable without any lock loss during 1h !

2) then I will do a test by decreasing the Alphanov amplifier ratio to work at a lower input power but with an optimized CEP.
Now, I optimized the CEP and alignment and reduce the Alphanov amplifier ratio to 15% => 24kW power in the FPC.
on CH2, I got 60mV (when I got 250mV when I'm at 97kW in the FPC) => ratio ~ 4.2 => 97kW / 4,2 ~ 23 kW
I checked that the PID parameters are not over-valuated which can produce a power reduction and the CEP is optimum as well as the alignment.

Axis 18 position : -13188
PID parameters (P = 0.1 / I = 0.002 / D = 1.5)

I started to record a long trend of the FPC power => cf 2nd trend with gradually increasing of the power because of the drift of the CEP + feedback adjustments.

CONCLUSION :
at this power and with nominal LW (CEP is optimized), the FPC seems much more stable without any lock loss during 1h !

3) I found a stable position for FPC around 46kW

I used the recepie for 46kW => after some time, I observed a lot of high frequency noise which induces some lock loss.
 

yesterday, we were able to store more than 98kW in the FP cavity, always with the same parameter : 33% laser amplifier ratio

list of possible causes of the high frequency noise which makes the system loosing the lock => to be checked.
(if you have some new idea, I will edit the post)

1- Laser
   1.1- vibrations on the laser box coming from the optical table / housing
   1.2- vibrations coming from the Smaract translation stages (Frep or CEP) inside the laser box
   1.3- pressure noise coming from the weather (the laser cavity is sealed) on the laser box

2- Amplifier
   2.1- vibrations coming from the fans in the controler crate
   2.2- vibrations coming from the chiller (water cooling cavitation)

3- Beam propagation
   3.1- vibration noise coming from the housing / the table
   3.2- vibration noise coming from the motors of the injection mirrors

4- Fabry-Perot cavity
   4.1- pressure noise on the cavity vessels coming from the weather/air cooling
   4.2- vibrations coming from the rust on the mechanics
   4.3- vibrations of the mirror mounts due to temperature related to cavity power
   4.4- vibrations coming from the electron ring mechanics
   4.5- "vacuum" index variation coming from local ionization due to the electron beam
   4.6- vibrations coming from the far position (related to the middle range) of some mounts and due to the spring of the translations stage.

5- Feedback system / Electronics / CEM
   5.1- CEM votage noise on the laser or FPC PZT's

the 33MHz beating signal (phase) is used to start and stop automatically the lock on the 500MHz beating signal.

this 33MHz beating phase has a fixed range (typically +/-0.5V), so it is important to center this beating phase in the middle of its own range when the 500MHz signal is locked

=> tune the 33MHz phase in order to get ~ 0V on 33MHz beating signal when the 500MHz locking is ON.

this can be done by using the python script "Write_Phase_Rigol_33MHz located in the path /tmp_mnt/data/shared/commissioning_scripts/common
 

Today, I removed the NKT oscillator from the bunker to put it in the PLIC room.

I locked the FP cavity and obtained 97kW with 33% amplifier ratio, without any alignment, just by changing a little bit the CEP.