Digital Control of Current: Tomsk Researchers Develop Power Supply for the Sila Synchrotron
Researchers at Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU) have developed a key component of the control system for Sila, a major megascience synchrotron project. The development marks another step toward a large-scale research facility that will enable in-depth studies of materials, biological systems, and drugs.
The programmable FC (Fast Corrector) current supply is designed to control the current and the rate at which the magnetic field changes in the synchrotron’s fast-corrector magnets. The new device can regulate current from −5 to +5 A, with an output voltage of up to ±40 V, and delivers accuracy of up to 200 parts per million (ppm). These capabilities allow the power supply to rapidly ramp the current in the magnet’s inductive winding, providing the precision required for dynamic beam stabilization..
This is not an off-the-shelf power supply. The FC is a specialized piece of high-tech electronics that combines power circuitry, digital control, high-speed interfaces, and precision measurement capabilities.
As part of the Sila project, researchers in Tomsk are also developing current supplies for other synchrotron components. What sets Sila apart is that it brings together two powerful tools for studying matter: a fourth-generation synchrotron radiation source and an X-ray free-electron laser. The facility will be able to expose samples to extreme conditions, an important capability for materials science research. The results of experiments at Sila are expected to support the development of new materials for applications in chemistry, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medicine, electronics, and energy.
From Prototype to Production
Because the magnet-corrector power supply is currently at the prototype stage, the developers’ next task is to put it through a comprehensive testing program in the near future. Engineers must verify its specified accuracy and response speed, its resistance to electrical interference, and its operating stability under load. Once those tests are complete, the project can move into production, potentially establishing a full line of Russian-made programmable power supplies for accelerator facilities.
These devices are intended not only for Sila but also for upgrades to other research facilities that require precise control of magnetic fields. The Russian technology could eventually attract interest from research centers abroad, provided it demonstrates its effectiveness and reliability after the synchrotron is commissioned, currently scheduled for 2033.
Toward Greater Independence in Scientific Research
Until 2022, Russian research facilities relied extensively on imported components. In recent years, however, scientists have faced restrictions on supplies. During construction of the SKIF synchrotron in the Novosibirsk region, for example, the project was expected to use precision power supplies made by Denmark’s Danfysik. After the Danish company withdrew from the contract, specialists at the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences developed their own production-ready power supply for the booster’s dipole magnets in 2023. Three such units are needed to bring SKIF online.
Russian research organizations have thus demonstrated that they can develop and manufacture mission-critical components for complex facilities such as synchrotrons, matching the performance of products from leading global manufacturers. TPU’s latest development shows that this is not an isolated achievement: Russia’s scientific and engineering community is capable of building next-generation research equipment.
Powering Sila’s Scientific Future
The work now underway at TPU is not about everyday IT services. It is important to the future of Russia’s scientific electronics industry and the country’s ability to operate independently of foreign suppliers for critical components. The FC current supply is another important building block in the Sila project, helping bring the facility closer to completion and enabling a broad program of scientific experiments. The findings, in turn, could underpin the development of new materials with applications across a wide range of industries.
