BackgroundCompared with 2D+1D adjustment, three dimensional adjustment has a more rigorous theoretical basis. However, when the unconstrained three dimensional adjustment is applied to the observation values processing of the accelerator alignment control network, serious error accumulation will occur and resulting in obvious distortion of the results.PurposeThis study aims to expound the ways and characteristics of three dimensional adjustment error accumulation for accelerator alignment control network.MethodsFirstly, based on the layout of accelerator alignment control network and the moving station measurement method of laser tracker, the three dimensional adjustment mathematical model was analyzed, and the least-squares collocation theory was used to clearly explain the error propagation. Secondly, the characters of laser tracker measurement accuracy, station positioning and orientation accuracy and single station measurement error propagation were studied by analyzing the laser tracker 3D coordinate measurement model, measurement point error model and simulation measurement experiments. Finally, adjustment calculation of the linac control network was verified by simulation measurement, and two error accumulation suppression methods were tested.ResultsThe source and propagation mode of error accumulation are explained theoretically, and verified by simulation calculation, so are the serious error accumulation of elevation and lateral errors in three dimensional adjustment of control network in accelerator.ConclusionsProviding high-precision point coordinate constraint for three dimensional adjustment can effectively suppress error accumulation, and providing high-precision orientation constraint for station coordinate system can also achieve the effect of suppressing error accumulation.