1. There were no comments to last week’s minutes.
2. Main Technical News
a. On HRS, the Target Group saw 33Mg on the tape station, and indirectly 34Mg (due to the short half-life). After solving some problems with the time signals that open the beam gate to the setup of IS 530, the users got 34Mg. The careful diagnosis done by the target group help to find the problem on the users side. The experiment took place until Sunday afternoon with a few interruptions (see below). Thanks to Thomas for replacing Magda during her absence.
b. On Saturday, the controls for all devices were suddenly lost and could only be restored after some hours. The problem seems to be a shared IP via a HUB. More generally the restricted number of IP addresses available to ISOLDE is discussed.
c. On GPS, the ALARA 3 intervention on FC490 piston successfully solved the vacuum leak (cp. minutes 5.9.12), however, Faraday cup GPS.FC490 reacts slowly so one should be aware of the problem when using it.
d. On GPS, the LIST tests started on Friday. However a new way of connecting the LIST repeller, which was not documented or communicated, cost time on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Finally on Sunday evening, the LIST was properly operational. On Mg and Po isotopes, it was possible to reach a suppression factor of 104 of surface-ionized particles. The yield of the laser-ionized isotopes was a factor of 10 less than without the LIST. Same tests will be repeated on HRS for comparison. The involvement of all ISOLDE teams is highly appreciated.
e. During the LIST run, there were two issues. First, the high yield of some tens of nA from the stable mass marker caused space-charge effects within the LIST, and the laser beam caused partly re-ionization of the contaminants. Second, because of a problem with the ISOLDE tape station, the Target Group was allowed to perform beta-count measurements with the tape station from the Strassbourg group (which could not be moved).
f. Thanks to the operators for setting up the target on Sunday including proton scan.
g. On Monday, there was a 2nd successful INCA day (device control software) and a network cable was pulled to ISCOOL.
h. Since Monday, experiments on heavy beams within IS 456 are ongoing with the LIST target to the windmill setup.
i. Collections at GLM for PSI concerning lead-bismuth targets for EURISOL will be performed on Thursday.
3. Other Technical News:
a. Another INCA intervention is planned for 8.10.12. After this, ISOLDE controls will be fully switched to INCA.
b. Tim checked the tape station and found a temporary remedy. However, further tests are planned for Sep 19th.
4. REX/RILIS:
a. Mg laser beams worked well, RILIS switched to Po beams on Monday. They started to prepare for narrow-band ionization on Tuesday.
b. Part of REX setup at 30kV happened yesterday and will be finalized on Thursday. Po beam has been in the trap, stable beam will probably be delivered to MINIBALL later today.
c. There will also be some further REX beam-development tests.
5. Physics and Schedule:
a. The users saw close to 103 ions/s of 34Mg. They found some new transitions and evidence for the isomer in 34Al. They were happy with the results, in spite of delays due to LIST-connection problems.
b. Despite the high suppression factor of LIST, there was still too much Fr contamination on 211,212Po for physics at LA1 (IS456) without contaminating the setup. The lasers are now being scanned in narrow-band mode on 217Po, where the users detect about 2 ions/s, to check whether this is more feasible.
c. The articles about bio-beta NMR and CRIS appeared in the CERN bulletin: http://cdsweb.cern.ch/journal/CERNBulletin/2012/37/News%20Articles/1475…
d. Last year’s Tb collections resulted in a publication in a high-impact journal, J. Nucl. Med. August collections of Tb for a Group from Lausanne within the MEDICIS program were also successful and a publication is under preparation.
e. The interlocks of gauges and valves in the ISOLDE beam line are set by CERN Vacuum Group to certain thresholds. If you foresee for your experiment to exceed this threshold temporarily, please contact an operator or Giovanna Vandoni (from the Vacuum Group) well before arriving at ISOLDE to allow for temporary changes. In principle, the thresholds should not be by-passed.
f. Magda is away next week. She will be replaced by Elisa until Wednesday and by Jan for the rest of the week.
g. It has been confirmed that protons to ISOLDE will stop on 17.12.12. No physics beyond this point possible. Please remember that the last few days of scheduling will be taken from the coordinator’s reserve to accommodate for example failed experiments.
6. Safety:
a. The chemical storage behind ISOLDE caused complaints from safety officers. Chemicals not needed for experiments should be moved to the chemical storage in building 26.
b. Next week, Alexandre Dorsival will carry out some smearing tests with long-lived species in the REX beam line.
c. A cupboard and table for ISOLDE RP shipments will be installed in the hall extension until the end of 2012.
7. AOB:
a. As a matter of safety, refrain from over-crowding the experimental areas and passages. The DAQ room is available for users coming for an experiment. Please do not sit or stand in the passage near the walls.
b. There is a new laptop for presentations in the ISOLDE seminar room. The BIOS password has been communicated in the meeting. You are advised to log in with “isouser”, password is the same as in the control room of the hall.
c. Problems concerning LN2 fillings have been acknowledged. Magda is looking into this.
d. The space to access the SAS starts to be too tight for trucks. If you experience severe difficulties, please contact Erwin.
e. The meeting was followed by a seminar by Sophie Heinz on “Fusion and Transfer Reactions in Heavy Collision Systems with Stable and Radioactive Beams”: http://indico.cern.ch/conferenceDisplay.py?confId=205076
Minutes taken by SK