Analog cavity simulator

Most of the low-level radio frequency (LLRF) systems are being developed well before the machines are being set up and ready to be commissioned. Therefore it is imperative to be able to test and evaluate their functionality and performance in the laboratory, before the instrument is installed in the final configuration. Real accelerator cavities are very expensive and frequency-dependent, hence impractical for mass factory testing of instrumentation. As an alternative, we developed an analog cavity simulator. The article gives an explanation of the main design concept, some key considerations of its implementation in order to reach the required specifications, and presents the test results, showing the simulator performance.