Minutes of the 102nd Meeting of the ISOLDE Collaboration Committee
held on March 6th 2025
Present: J. Cederkäll, L.M. Fraile, S. Freeman, H. Fynbo, G. Georgiev, A. Herzan, H. Heylen, M. Kowalska, K. Lynch, D. Naidoo, A. Nannini, W. Nörtershäuser, J. Pakarinen, M. Pfützner, I. Martel, C. Mihai, G. Rainovski, J.A. Rodríguez, N. Severijns, E. Siesling, N. van der Meulen, J. Vollaire
Absent: J. Cederkäll, S. Siem
Invited: D. Lupascu (P.T.), C. Schweiger (P.T.), L. Vázquez Rodríguez (P.T.)
The meeting starts via Zoom at 09:00 h
1. Introductory remarks
The ISCC Chairperson, L.M. Fraile, opens the 102nd meeting of the committee and welcomes the participants.
2. New Initiatives Section
2.1. Introduction and context – S. Freeman
The committee is reminded that there is a need at ISOLDE to better understand the consequences, requirements and resources for new initiatives and large changes to existing installations to enable better project management, better space management and better use of resources. A draft of the approval process for new initiatives or large changes in the ISOLDE hall was discussed at the ISCC meeting in November 2024. S Freeman presents slight modifications that have been made to the latter stages of the process described in the document. After agreement in-principle from the ISCC and approval from the INTC via a letter of intent or proposal have both been obtained then a CERN Engineering Change Request (ECR) document must be produced and the associated process followed. The ECR is a more detailed description of the layout, services and implications for other users in the vicinity as well as safety implications that is then shared with the CERN teams, safety and other ISOLDE Users who might be affected for comment.
S. Freeman explains that five initiatives for the period up to and including LS3 will be presented at this meeting asking for Collaboration approval in-principle; technical details will be dealt with via later stages of the approval process. Four of these initiatives have INTC support either via a specific LoI or via on-going scientific programmes and the other concerns general infrastructure so underpins all science programmes. The committee should consider if it is a useful initiative that will create new scientific opportunities, improve efficiency or safety or has other desirable results and if it seems a sensible thing to do from the perspective of the ISOLDE Collaboration.
2.2. ISOLTRAP – C. Schweiger
The current situation at ISOLTRAP is presented to the committee and C. Schweiger explains that the replacement of the ISOLTRAP platform has been a requirement of the Swiss health authorities, and hence EP safety, for some time. This is because the wooden structure is not permissible in a type C laboratory and it is not safe in case of seismic events. The power distribution is also outdated.
The committee is shown the first draft of the replacement platform provided by CERN Site and Civil Engineering (SCE) and how it would be integrated into the hall. The new structure would have the same footprint as the current platform and would be a full aluminium structure with the staircase attached to the platform instead of the concrete pillars. There would be improved anchoring of the platform to the walls of the building and the concrete pillars would be reinforced. There would be an up-to-date power distribution across the platforms and an emergency exit from the second platform.
C. Schweiger presents a very preliminary cost estimate for the project with the total cost of approximately 100kCHF. It is hoped that a large proportion of this cost will be covered by the EP department with the remainder shared in some way between the ISOLTRAP and ISOLDE collaborations; a final decision will be made once a more precise cost is known. The committee is told that it is hoped to finalise the workplan during the first half of 2025 allowing the removal of the equipment on the platform and its transport to building 275 at the end of the year. The construction work would take place during LS3 and will have to be scheduled around the refills of cryoliquids. Construction of each platform level should take a maximum of four weeks.
2.3. ISOLDE Hall entrance platform – J. Vollaire
The committee is told that, in order to optimise space on the ground floor and take advantage of the consolidation of the aging ISOLDE and REX-ISOLDE power converters, the coordination team would like to extend the existing metallic platform at the entrance of the ISOLDE hall. Plans for the new platform are presented and the committee is made aware that one of the new metal pillars will be located in the GHM/GLM area. J. Vollaire explains that the construction work will have to take place during 2025 as the technical teams involved will be very busy with other projects during LS3. However, there is some flexibility to allow work to take place around the GHM/GLM schedule. The detailed ECR document will be made available for comment.
2.4. COLLAPS/CRIS – L. Vázquez Rodríguez
A proposal by COLLAPS and CRIS to enhance laser spectroscopy infrastructure in the ISOLDE hall is presented to the committee. The current situation with the two collinear laser spectroscopy set-ups in operation in the hall, with COLLAPS on the LA3 line and CRIS on the LB0 line, is shown to the committee. L. Vázquez Rodríguez explains that the CRIS and COLLAPS collaboration would like to install a platform over the two set-ups in order to solve the present logistical constraints. This would allow items such as the electronic and vacuum racks to be relocated to the platform freeing up space to build a laser cabin next to the experiments. Benefits would include a short transport path for the high-power lasers and higher stability due to the AC unit inside the laser cabin. A clean environment for the lasers would also be created with the implementation of an airflow enclosure. An additional benefit of the new platform would be to provide an extra escape path from the upper ISOLTRAP platform. The committee is told that the proposal would also solve the issue that the existing concrete installation for laser beam delivery has to be replaced as it fails to comply with building regulations.
The proposed design of the new platform is presented and the committee is told that the rough cost estimate is 75kCHF. It is explained that any crane access constraints could be solved by having temporary sections of the platform and the VITO laser pipe has already been taken into account in the design. L. Vázquez Rodríguez informs the committee that EP safety have already been consulted and are positive about the proposal.
2.5. MULTIPAC– D. Lupascu
A request is made to relocate the MULTIPAC set-up from its present location in building 275 to either 508/R-006/R-008 or to the GLM area. D. Lupascu explains that, as there is currently no space available for MULTIPAC in the GLM area, planning for the move to 508 is highly advanced. The proposed integration plan for the set-up in 508 is presented and the space requirements explained. The committee is told that there is sufficient space in 508 to accommodate both MULTIPAC and PACBIT. D. Lupascu assures the committee that magnetic field safety requirements would also be met by the relocation.
The committee is told that the relocation of MULTIPAC would allow novel PAC experiments with external magnetic fields to be performed safely and reliably. This is because experiments with open sources can be performed on site in 508, there is proper air conditioning to ensure the welfare of users and transport of samples from the GLM to the PAC spectrometer is easier. The impact of the proposal on other equipment as well as utilities and services is detailed.
D. Lupascu informs the committee that sufficient funding for the project is available but must be used by the end of September 2025. Two PhD students are currently available to support the work required.
2.6. ISRS Test Bench – I. Martel
The committee is reminded that the ISOLDE Superconducting Recoil Separator (ISRS) includes two prototypes, the Multi Harmonic Buncher (MHB) and the Ion Test bench (IONTB). The project requires that the MHB, that is already built and operational, be installed in the beamline between EBIS and the HIE-ISOLDE linac. The plan is to install the MHB at the end of 2027 so that it can be included in machine commissioning in 2028; then, if there are losses that might affect other experiments it can be removed. If it is found to be transparent then it could be left in the beamline until needed. It is planned to ship the IONTB, that is still under development, along with the MHB to CERN in the middle of 2027. The IONTB would then be installed at XT03 which would require the removal of the SEC.
I. Martel explains that 3M€ in funding for the project was obtained in Spain for the period 2023 to 2026 and a Spanish grant application has been submitted for the period 2026 to 2028. The current project planning is shown to the committee.
2.7. Private discussion by ISCC – LM.. Fraile & S. Freeman
It is clarified that the technical details of the projects presented for approval will be considered by other CERN committees and that funding is the responsibility of the collaborations themselves; as yet no requests for funding have been made to the ISOLDE Collaboration.
The ISCC grants approval in principle to the proposals for platforms at the entrance to the ISOLDE Hall, for ISOLTRAP and for COLLAPS/CRIS, which means that they have collaboration backing to move into the formal ECR process. The ISCC requests that particular attention is paid to future proofing so that there is the possibility to interconnect or accommodate additional platforms at a later date.
The committee also grants approval in principle for the proposal to deploy MULTIPAC in the laboratory in Building 508, which means they too have collaboration backing to move into the formal ECR process. All other solid state physics users of the space must be sufficiently informed of the proposed changes.
The collaborations concerned should lead the ECR processes themselves.
The ISCC thinks the ISRS proposal discussed very interesting developments but it was decided to postpone a decision on whether to give "approval in principle" to the deployment of the ISRS Test Bench on the XT03 beam line and the multi-harmonic buncher. The following additional information is requested so that the proposal could be discussed again at a future ISCC meeting:
- Additional technical details on the multi-harmonic buncher and a planning scenario for implementing the device. The latter concerns the implementation and characterisation in the linac, as well as potential deployment strategies should there be negative consequences for certain beams/experiments that prevent its permanent inclusion in the machine.
- Whether the implementation of the Test Bench was permanent or for a limited duration, and what effect this might have on the use of flexible setups that have been deployed at XT03 in the past.
- Any significant safety concerns that might arise from an initial safety audit which must be undertaken. The proponents should contact EP safety about this issue as soon as possible.
- A better understanding of the hall space required and the estimated timelines
S. Freeman will inform those concerned of the committee’s decisions.
The committee is told that having liquid nitrogen piped to different fixed points in the hall is not allowed for safety reasons. However, it may be allowed to have a delivery pipe going to an experiment if it is fixed to the set-up but this would be very costly. The project to install a large liquid nitrogen dewar at ISOLDE, if it happens, will not take place until after LS3.
3. Approval of the Minutes of the last meeting of November 6th 2024 and the meeting agenda
The agenda of the meeting and the minutes from the previous meeting are approved.
4. Collaboration Matters – S. Freeman
The committee is reminded of the funding already approved for the ISOLDE improvement programme via the 2023 and 2024 MTPs and consolidation funds. In addition to this, 1MCHF has recently been approved for RILIS consolidation and improvements bringing the total so far for the ISOLDE improvement programme to approximately 22MCHF. This is already a major achievement, in particular for performance enhancing improvements, and the success is due to the close collaboration between physics and technical stakeholders. Thanks are due to all those involved.
S. Freeman then presents an overview of the costs of the improvements included in the 2025 MTP request for ISOLDE. A. Rodríguez, E. Siesling and J. Vollaire are thanked for the huge amount of work it has taken to put together the request. The total cost of the 2025 MTP request, that includes both material and GRAD, is 8.69MCHF and, in addition, another 750kCHF is required for a new SRF technician to enable the procurement and assembly of CM5 during the period 2026 to 2030. S. Freeman explains that this brings the total funding required to 9.44MCHF which is higher than expected by ATS management and carries risk regarding MTP approval. Hence, the ISOLDE Collaboration has been asked to contribute financially to reduce the call on the MTP and improve the chances of approval. A co-fund arrangement has been suggested with 5.7MCHF coming from CERN and 3.74MCHF from the Collaboration. If accepted, this would bring the total amount made available for the ISOLDE improvement programme to 31.44 MCHF with a 12% contribution from the Collaboration.
The Collaboration income and expenditure for 2024 is presented followed by the evolution of the balance the collaboration account since 2010. Yearly savings have increased since the final HIE-ISOLDE loan repayment was made in 2023. The figures show that the Collaboration could use the current balance and some further savings to cover part of the MTP request as mentioned above and still have some headroom to invest in new projects; a list of such projects would reassure the Financial Review Committee (FRC).
The financial planning for 2025 is shown to the committee with approximately 550kCHF of the 950kCHF income already allocated, leaving 400kCHF as savings. The budget planning for 2025 is approved by the committee.
S. Freeman shows how the 3.74MCHF requested from the Collaboration towards the MTP request could be paid for using 2.58MCHF savings plus three future years of 400kCHF savings. The expenditure would be spread over the period from 2025 to 2030 on items identified as being close to the impact on physics or related to previous investment by the Collaboration. The spending plan would mean that the Collaboration account balance would never go to zero. The ISCC approves the proposal. It will now go forward to the CERN Directorate, the DG and then the CERN Council for final approval with an outcome expected in May/June 2025.
The status of collaboration contributions from member states is presented. A recommendation will be made to the FRC to write off the Greek debt. The 2024 Bulgarian contribution has not yet been received due to political issues; G. Rainovski explains that the go ahead for the 2024 30kCHF payment depends on the government budget approval. From 2026 onwards, the contributions from both Bulgaria and South Africa should increase to the full 60kCHF. The committee is told by G. Rainovski that a request will be made for the extra funds to cover the fee increase but there is no guarantee that this will be approved. D. Naidoo explains that after the South African CERN meeting on 25th March, more information should be known about whether or not the increased fee can be achieved.
The committee is informed that the LS3 plan to start the ISOLDE beam dump replacement at the end of 2025 and bring the facility back online with the return of protons from the PSB in 2028 has now been discussed at meetings of the ISCC and INTC as well as at the ISOLDE Workshop. The plan has been included in the ATS baseline planning but has not yet been formally approved by CERN. Hence the Research board, to which the plan has already been presented, will be asked to give its approval on 19th March.
S. Freeman reminds the committee that his contract will end on 31st July while that of the new Physics Section leader, L.M. Fraile, will start on 1st July so there should be about 4 weeks overlap. After July, S. Freeman will be available for help on a request basis. A consequence of this change in ISOLDE management is that a replacement for L. Fraile as ISCC chair has to be selected. The document detailing the process to select a new ISCC chair, which was distributed to committee members in advance of the meeting, is approved. It is clarified that those eligible to apply for the position are the current ISCC members and those approached by the search committee. ISSC members who would like to volunteer to be part of the search committee are asked to contact S. Freeman via email as soon as possible.
The committee is informed that all comments received regarding the draft of the ISOLDE Collaboration ESPP contribution have now either been considered or reacted to. The committee approves the document so S. Freeman will proceed with its submission. It is noted that this time the ESPP seems geared up to specifically look at non-particle physics programmes so committee members are again requested to make sure that ISOLDE is mentioned in their national submissions.
S. Freeman explains that, after the idea of an ISOLDE PhD prize was raised at the previous ISCC meeting, comparisons with how this is done by other CERN experiments has brought up a couple of issues to consider. Firstly, to avoid a huge number of submissions for the prize, these should not be made by the PhD supervisor. Secondly, a group set up to judge the theses submitted would need a mechanism to reduce numbers down to a few theses that could be read in their entirety. Also, the esteem and a certificate should be sufficient as the prize. S. Freeman will draft a proposal to be considered at the ISCC meeting in June.
The committee is informed that the report on the safety changes required for the re-use of the GLM/GHM area has been accepted by EP safety and the required changes have been implemented. The main changes involve specific procedure for each activity, a system for tracking samples and reminders of responsibility. A safety procedure now exists to be followed by all experiments wanting to run in the GLM/GHM area.
The HSE safety review of the ISOLDE facility has now been completed and recommendations should soon be received. S. Freeman explains that certain recent events have clarified CERN safety procedures at ISOLDE and how they align with other CERN facilities. The time required to write procedures should reduce with experience. If existing procedures are found to hamper work discussions should be made with EP safety. The same goes for the wearing of PPE; if it is found to get in the way of an activity, it should be discussed with EP safety. If a data sheet does not exist at an institute for a material made at the institute, EP safety should be contacted about how to proceed.
The committee is reminded that all publications resulting from work carried out at ISOLDE are required to have GOLD Open Access by both CERN and EURO-LABS. While this has been arranged through CERN for a large number of publications (for example, PRL and PRC will automatically publish as GOLD open access if it is made clear the publication is from a CERN collaboration), this is not possible for articles published in Nature which can make it costly for the authors involved.
5. News from the ISOLDE group – S. Freeman
The present manpower situation in the ISOLDE Physics Group is summarised:
• Research Fellows = “Research Fellowship Experimental Physics (Category 1)”: Jessica Warbinek – CRIS (January 2024 – December 2025), Peter Plattner – COLLAPS (November 2024 – December 2026). Victoria Vedia – IDS (March 2025 – February 2027)
• Applied Fellows = “Research Fellowship In Applied Physics And Engineering (Category 2)”: Carlotta Porzio – MINIBALL (March 2024 – February 2026), Patrick Macgregor – HIE-ISOLDE (Nov. 2022 to Oct. 2025), Michael Pesek - VITO (November 2022 – November 2025), Lukas Nies – MR-TOFs/PUMA (Sept. 2023 – Aug. 2025), Nikolay Azaryan – VITO/ATLAS (December 2023 – November 2025).
• QUEST Fellows = “like an Applied Fellow hired directly to a specific project in advert”: Amy Sparks – VITO/medical imaging (May. 2023 – Dec. 2025)
• Scientific Associates: Joakim Cederkäll (Oct 2024 – Sept 2025), Deyan Yordanov (July 2025 – June 2026)
• Corresponding Associate: None
• Doctoral Students: Ilaria Michelon (CERN via VITO EU+EP Quota) (April 2023 – February 2026), Daniel Paulitsch (CERN via Gentner Doctoral Program) (August 2023 – July 2026), Edward Matthews (COLLAPS via TU Darmstadt) (December 2023 - November 2026), Anu Nagpal (VITO via University of York) (April 2024 – September 2025)
• Staff Members: Sean Freeman (Physics Group Leader) (August 2021 to July 2025), Magdalena Kowalska (CERN staff member- Senior Research Physicist) (January 2020 -), Hanne Heylen (Physics Coordinator) (September 2023 to August 2026), Mark Bissell (Research Physicist LD)(September 2022 to August 2025).
• User: Jenny Weterings (User Support) ISOLDE Collaboration & University of Oslo (2002- )
The next deadline for fellows and associates applications is in autumn 2025 and the exact date will be published on the CERN jobs website.
6. News from the ISOLDE Physics coordinator– H. Heylen
The committee is told that in 2024 a total of 426 shifts were delivered for physics, beam development and ad-hoc measurements to 44 distinct IS experiments / letters of intent. At the INTC meeting in February 2025, another 127 shifts were approved for experiments at ISOLDE.
H. Heylen presents an overview of the beam requests received for 2025 with a total of 1115 shifts requested for scheduling by 115 experiments. The committee is told that low energy physics will start at ISOLDE on 28th March with the start of HIE-ISOLDE scheduled for 13th June. The earlier than usual start date for HIE-ISOLDE is due to commissioning time being reduced by several weeks. Protons should be available until 8th December which is when physics will end at ISOLDE for LS3 as no winter physics campaign is planned this year. H. Heylen shows the committee the ISOLDE Physics schedule for the period 28th March until 10th June, which has already been published, and explains that the goal was to schedule beam for as many groups as possible. To produce the schedule experimental collaborations were asked to provide priorities for their set-ups and following input from the INTC, priority was given to physics over beam development. Groups affected by the suspension of GLM/GHM in 2024 were accommodated where possible. From the summer onwards priority will be given to HIE-ISOLDE runs.
The committee is informed that, subject to approval of the CERN Council in March, MEDICIS aims to start clinical trials in 2025. This will consist of three 24-hour periods of direct radiation, the timing of which should be known several months in advance. It is hoped to minimise the impact of this on ISOLDE physics by good communication and taking advantage of set up time etc. when no or minimum protons are used.
H. Heylen then makes the following announcements:
- A document containing guidelines for spokespersons of experiments scheduled at ISOLDE is now available and has been sent to the spokespersons of experiments already scheduled this year. One of the points included in the document is a reminder that the spokesperson of the experiment is responsible for ensuring that all the participants are correctly registered at CERN.
- The new technician funded by the Collaboration, Oscar Fjeld, started work at the beginning of March. His responsibilities will include being the workshop supervisor so that the workshop in 508 will be able to re-open. He will also be expected to help travelling experiments as well as permanent set-ups at ISOLDE with work managed via the Physics Coordinator and the Technical Coordinator. Also, space management will come under his remit as well as other tasks that would benefit from being carried out by someone who is at CERN for a longer period, such as LN2 filling, management of chemicals and craning.
- Users are again allowed to use the crane in the ISOLDE hall under certain conditions.
- There have been changes in radioactive source management that include the modification of the storage location and the appointment of a Source Responsible’ per installation.
- Activities in the GLM/GHM area are once more permitted subject to additional measures. These include declarations for spokespersons and participants, the new role of collection coordinator and the modifications to procedures.
- The temporary storage location in building 263 will no longer be available to ISOLDE from April 2025. Experiments are encouraged to return equipment to home institutes.
- A spare 300 litre liquid nitrogen dewar is available to users due to the postponement of the installation of a large dewar until after LS3.
The committee hears that work completed in the hall during the YETS period included modifications to the overhead crane to allow powering of the PUMA and electrical work at the RILIS laboratory. Also, modifications were made to the WISArD crane and ISCOOL RFQ tests completed.
H. Heylen ends by informing the committee that, due to the building 197 ventilation works, the building 508 external staircase will temporarily be removed so will be unavailable during the period from March to June 2025. Due to safety rules, this will reduce the maximum size of visits groups allowed in the visitor room from 24 to 12. An alternative location will be found for larger groups. The entrance to the ISOLDE hall from the Jura side will remain open during this period but, without the external stairs, access to the hall from the DAQ room will require a short detour via the internal stairs.
The dates of the remaining ISCC meetings in 2025 are still to be decided.
Meeting ends at 12:45.
N.B. The above presentations can be found via https://indico.cern.ch/event/1515972/ .