Minutes from the ISOLDE Physics Group meeting on September 24, 2014

Comments of the minutes from the PG meeting on September 18^th are pending on the release of said minutes.

Technical news

GPS

• The backup molten lead target was installed last week due to poor performance of the scheduled target (used also in 2012). The proton scan was performed on Friday in order to be able to have the target ready for physics at GLM.
• Beam profile from the backup target was observed to be poor.
• Physics program on the target suffered of several interruptions for interventions in HRS.
• GPS users confirm poor beam focusing but add nevertheless the yields from the backup target were superb.
• FC490 faraday cup and accompanying scanner could not be inspected and still show unstable readouts (at least on pA ranges). Please be aware of the problem when tuning from GPS.
• Target change scheduled for Thursday. The current target will be run for GLM until 10 am Thursday morning.
• The next target is a carbon nanotubes for target and ion source development (mostly for boron beams). ISOLTRAP’s MR-TOF will be used to help the tests.
• The use of protons on Friday should be coordinated with technical teams wanting to access the class A labs, as originally there were not protons expected on Friday.

The Ta target for ¹¹Li IS525 will be installed early next week.

HRS

• Astatine run for Windmill and ISOLTRAP finished on Saturday lunchtime.
• COLLAPS took over after with a stable beam tuning exercise.
• Magnet cycling problems seems to be finally solved.
• There was a problem un-clamping the old target. Attempts were made Monday through Tuesday. A faulty electro-valve was repaired and clamp pressure increased, but with no success.
• The situation was finally followed using a camera robot, which confirmed that the clamps are not fully open, but the cause is still unknown.
• Because of the intervention on HRS the GPS proton intensity is limited now to 0.1uA.
• It is presently not clear how this problem will affect HRS and GPS runs. So far, only the CRIS run was cancelled.
• Before the new target is installed the ISOLDE technical team wants to be sure the problem is fully understood so it doesn’t occur again.
• The current plan is to intervene on HRS early next week, after about a week of cooling time.

Solid state

• Several physics cases were studied in the solid state physics campaign:
  
  • Characterize the chemicals bonds of nano particles used for removing heavy metals from water. Enough data on Cd bonds with nano particles was collected for the study.
  • Study catalytic properties of graphene interacting with Cd metals. The experiment was not very successful due to problems with samples.
  • Several tests of ferroelectric-magneto resistive materials. These materials show magnetocaloric properties, that is, they have phase transitions in the presence of magnetic fields. This can be used to control heat release and absorption using magnetic fields.
• Guilherme adds all the materials studied are quite new. The data obtained using nuclear probes can have a big impact as it provides local information before macroscopic techniques like x-rays can study them.

Windmill & ISOLTRAP

• All Astatine isotopes between A=194 to 219 were studied. ISOLTRAP measured from 201 to 211 and 219 at the MR-TOF in order to gate for the RILIS lasers to scan for hyperfine structure.
• The preliminary analysis of the data is very promising.

ISOLDE Schedule

• The second half of this year schedule is being prepared. Once all target and laser development is planned and users confirm the schedule will be released.
• Jenny has already contacted users for budget support and hostel reservations from November on.  

Safety

• Please make sure all new users now setting up at LA1 can and do respect ISOLDE safety regulations.
• The experiment requires liquid scintillator detector cans mounted in big aluminum frames. Following safety team recommendations they will be marked flammable. 
• Miguel Madurga asks people to be careful not to knock them out of their supports.
• The center supports will be places leaving at least 100 cm pass next to the ISOLDE blue racks with beamline power supplies. In case more space is needed please contact Miguel Madurga.
• Blue cryogenic gloves are now located at the bottom of the ISOLDE movable toolbox.
• New low temperature rubber pipes and a filling funnel have been delivered to the ISOLDE SAS and will be put also next to the LA1 toolbox.
• Electrical insulating mats and gloves have been ordered for the ISOLDE hall. They are expected to arrive October 6^th. They will be placed at the tool box for everybody to use when doing electrical work at the hall.
• Insulating mats and gloves have already been placed in the electrical workshop at B275.
• Please remember radioactive materials must be transported to B275 by RP.
• The local GLIMOS list for permanent ISOLDE experiments is finished and will be sent to the safety department.  They will be the safety contacts for all permanent experiments.
• Users ask if it’s possible to retrieve B275’s forklift from the hall. Magda Kowalska answers a forklift looking like the original ISOLDE one has been found in the new ISOLDE building, so B275’s can be move back.
• New discussions started about the destiny of B275. In order to make a case to keep it PG asks for possible uses. Mounting detectors, testing beamline equipment, etc. This applies even there is possible space in B508, as not everything can be done there. Magda will send a reminding email.
• B275 cannot be used for long term storage anymore. This will be followed by Magda Kowalska and Maria Borge.

Miscellanea

• Users mention LN2 was not delivered on Tuesday due to the Swiss federal holiday. Nobody at ISOLDE was informed that the delivery will not take place. Christophe was finally  informed that the delivery was rescheduled for Wednesday
• In the future this problem should not appear, because there are still plans to put a large LN2 container at ISOLDE’s entrance. This could be refilled every 2 weeks or so.
• Most of ISOLDE EN group are in Barcelona for the wrap up meeting of the EU CATHI program for HIE-ISOLDE.

The next meeting will take place at the same time Wednesday next week (2pm, 1^st October 2014)

Minutes taken by MMF