Design of Timing Control System Based on EPICS for CiADS

The China Initiative Accelerator Driven System (CiADS) adopts a high-precision timing synchronization network based on the White Rabbit (WR) protocol to achieve device synchronization and high-precision event triggering. The timing control system is based on the Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System (EPICS) and employs a hierarchical modular software design in a distributed architecture. It utilizes Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP) to control the WR timing synchronization network, allowing modular definition of distributed node parameters. The system interface visually presents the delay, pulse width, and triggering conditions of each node through a timing diagram. Docker container technology is employed to enhance the system's flexibility and maintainability. The system stores real-time data from WR devices in a database via the EPICS Input/Output Controller (IOC), and data is archived by the Archiver Appliance (AA) tool. Users can monitor and operate parameters through the Phoebus interface. Testing results show that the system’s clock accuracy is less than 1 ns, synchronization precision is less than 10 ps, and the synchronization of device trigger signals is less than 50 ps. The timing control system achieves stable delay and pulse width control with sub-second response times, and the command success rate exceeds 99.9%. These results meet CiADS's high-precision timing requirements and demonstrate the system's efficiency and reliability during operation at the ambient temperature front end.