Slow Control System for a NEXT-TPC prototype

NEXT is a double beta decay experiment that will be installed in Canfranc Underground Laboratory. The precise monitoring of a number of variables such as temperatures, relative and absolute pressure, gas flows, high voltage, etc is required for the proper operation of the detector and to perform the adequate data corrections. For this purpose a complete Slow Control System using LabVIEW has been developed and is now under operation for TPC studies and characterization. Each sensor can be connected to a main PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) with Ethernet. The PLC provides modularity and allows the increase of the number of sensors if needed, while the Ethernet port is a flexible interface for remote control and monitoring.