Aspects of automation and applications in the CERN antiproton source

The CERN antiproton source is comprised of two concentric accelerators and a production target zone. The Collector is a large-acceptance ring which acts as a buffer between the target and the Accumulator ring where the antiprotons are stored before being extracted. From the early days of the Accumulator (AA), various automatic procedures and tools have been introduced to assist in machine studies and diagnostic and to facilitate day-to-day operations for antiproton production and transfers to the CERN Collider. With the upgrade of the source in 1987 by the addition of the Collector ring (AC), the complexity of the source has at least doubled. New facilities have been added and the existing ones improved. This paper describes some of the applications, techniques and tools used for beam diagnostics, setting-up and routine operation of ththe antiproton source complex at CERN.