Control software of a variably polarizing undulator (APPLE type) for SX beamline in the SPring-8

This paper describes the control software of a variably polarizing undulator (APPLE Type) that was installed at the SX beamline (cell number 23) in the SPring-8 storage ring in February, 1998. This undulator produces a polarized radiation in the energy range of soft X-ray by changing the gap distance between two pairs of permanent magnet arrays (gap movement). The main characteristic of the undulator is a capability to generate right and left circular polarization alternately at a period of 2 sec (0.5 Hz) by high speed phase-shifting (periodic phase movement). The developed software makes a fast correction of the closed orbit distortion (COD) of an electron beam by exciting steering magnets at a rate of time interval of 24 msec (42 Hz) during the movement of magnet arrays. Also, the software is capable to put these magnet arrays into a constant periodic phase movement with an error less than 0.1% for the period of 2 sec. The software was developed in accordance with the directions of SPring-8 standard for software development. (author)