0. Comments to the minutes of the ISOLDE Physics Group Meeting of the 17.10.2012:
a. No comments.
1. Technical news - GPS
a. On Friday the ALARA3 procedure was granted in order to inspect the status of the GPS target. On Monday Richard et al. entered the target area, took off the UC target #484 and visually inspected the extraction electrode. As it was expected the extraction electrode got stuck in the intermediate position blocking the valve. Since presently the targets need to be decoupled in the open mode, only very light targets will be allowed for use. During the Long Shutdown the problem will be investigated farther, also the possibility of a similar failure in case of HRS will be checked.
b. The scheduled 3D laser measurement of the exaction electrode position was cancelled due to good enough estimation from the visual inspection.
c. One of the quadrupoles controlling the proton BTY line was broken and overheated, triggering a short PSB intervention (and stop in protons) on Wednesday.
d. The VISTAR beam comparators controlling the p beam position got a wrong read-out value due to some arrangements possible to use only before the software update to INCA. Problem fixed.
2. Technical news – HRS
a. The UC target #490 operated with 48K, 72Zn beams as a replacement for the GPS runs.
b. Continuation of the HRS operation until Saturday morning when the cool-down procedure of the target started. HRS tuned for 50kV providing over the weekend stable beam to ISOLTRAP.
c. On Tuesday the prototype target including a new neutron converter was installed. The converter has an improved design to avoid target interaction with scattered protons. Because of the different size of the target container the applied heating must be significantly larger. This target will be used for the forthcoming runs for TISD, ISOLTRAP and solid state physics. The operation procedure, slightly different than usual, will be included by Alex in the logbook. In general, in case of a heating failure, first set the line heating to nominal and only afterwards change the setting for the target container.
d. Wednesday: the p-scan done, beginning of the yield checks.
3. Technical news - REX and RILIS
a. REX: Problems with the fan of the RF amplifier, replaced.
b. REX: Mismatch of the field regulator readings between INCA and FESA. Fixed.
c. RILIS continues operation on Zn.
d. RILIS: Small problem with the automatic beam position control – slight beam drift needed to be adjusted manually. Problem to be fixed.
5. Physics and schedule
a. The non-observation of the isomeric states in Au reported last week might be due to their half-life being too short to allow the extraction from the target.
b. At MINIBALL starting last Wednesday morning, Coulex with 72Zn, population of the 4+ state observed. High intensity of 3e6 particles/s. From Saturday the 22Ne beam was used for positioning of the Ge array.
c. ISOLTRAP is aiming for investigation of n-rich Cu isotopes.
6. AOB
a. The meeting was followed by a seminar by Tommi Eronen “Mass spectrometry and decay spectroscopy around 132Sn”.
b. No group meeting next week due to the INTC meeting.
c. On December 6th master students from Leuven will come to visit ISOLDE. Guides are welcome for tours in the morning.
d. TSR@ISOLDE workshop on Monday and Tuesday in building 40, salle Dirac.
e. On 5-7 November,, lecture series and a seminaron particle radioactivity will be given by Marek Pfützner. In order to help booking a sufficiently large room, please let know Susanne if you want to participate.
f. PhD students close to complete their project, please provide a copy of the thesis. It will be displayed in the visitors’ room.
g. Reorganisation of the ISOLDE mechanical workshop by Julien is appreciated. Please note that no safety clearance for the machines placed in the workshop is obtained so far.
h. The recent issues of ‘Nuclear Physics News’ will be displayed in the visitors’ room.
Minutes by jk