VPS - versatile power supply control system

Versatile power supply (VPS) control is a component of a network-based control system and SCADA software with a client/server architecture developed using the data logging server control by National Instruments. Installing OLE for process control (OPC) client in the data server of VPS allows access to every kind of CAEN power supply (SY1527, SY527, etc.) that supports OPC server functionality and achieves integration of data and operation. Using VPS graphic panels, graphical menus with various data presentations have been already created, so a new CAEN modulus can be added without writing new code but only extending the Citadel Data Base. The data acquired to the data base server is accessible from the network. Three experiments are using VPS: NTOF at CERN (1000 channels), NUCL-EX (1000 up to 6000 channel) and PRISMA-CLARA (4800 channels) at LNL-INFN Italy. The NTOF experiment aims to measure the neutron induced reactions relevant for nuclear astrophysics as well for applied nuclear physics, like the waste transmutation based on an accelerator driven system. PRISMA is a powerful mass spectrometer coupled to CLARA detector array for precise spectroscopic measurements on rare nuclei. The NUCL-EX collaboration is using GARFIELD, an apparatus designed to study complex nuclear events produced in medium to low energy reactions induced on heavy ions