Augmented Reality for Accelerator Operations: A Virtual Control Room Proof of Concept

Particle accelerator control rooms rely on fixed workstations with multiple monitors and on-site personnel, limiting operational flexibility. When experts connect remotely—whether for troubleshooting, monitoring, or collaboration—current setups often lack sufficient screen space, forcing users to toggle between interfaces and reducing situational awareness. Recent advancements in augmented reality headsets enable spatially aware virtual control rooms, allowing users to arrange and interact with multiple control panels in 3D space, improving efficiency and collaboration. In this work, we present our vision for a Virtual Control Room, addressing key user experience challenges, outlining the technical infrastructure, and demonstrating first prototype results from the Advanced Light Source.