C. Oscillator switching for variable frequency synchrotron control

Abstract

A method is discussed for switching from one sweeping oscillator to another or to a fixed oscillator, without significant discontinuity of frequency, phase or amplitude. The particle acceleration frequency in the Birmingham proton synchrotron (Oliphant 1947, Hibbard 1950) is derived from a mechanically tuned beat oscillator (Caro and Hibbard 1952). A circuit based on the above method is described, by means of which the output frequency is locked at a specified value when reached by the sweeping oscillator.