Minutes from ISOLDE Physics Group meeting, 16th March 2016.

No comment to the minutes from the previous PG meeting: 

Technical news:

There is still a lot of on-going shutdown work. The technical teams are preparing for protons to return and as the cold check progresses many small issues have shown up.

This has resulted in many minor time consuming interventions – especially around the front ends – and as a result little has been completed for the cold check (the systematic check-out of the machine before it receives protons: checking of power supplies; scanners and faraday cups; separation magnets and controls). The main concern at the moment is the GPS, where beam has not yet been sent through the separator.

ISOLDE:

• The eLogbook is running again.
• GPS:
  
  • Many small issues.
  • Last Friday the HT broke at 18 kV HT, and it has been repaired.
    • The reason could be sparks from remaining wires from the test “Liebe-target” prototype, not yet confirmed.
  • Since then, the test target for RILIS has shown strange behaviour: beam needed quite strong steering.
  • Beam tuning problems through the Separator.
    • Possible Front-end problems to be investigated…
  • There was a password problem with opening the Faraday cage.
• HRS:
  
  • Looks good. It has been tested to 40 kV HT
  • Double scanner still not working optimally, due to be replaced on Friday.
  • There are perhaps problems with the insulation for the cables on the front end of the HRS: intervention for this will be also on Friday.
• Target Robots need to be tested fully.
• The BTY-line for GPS will be installed Tuesday.
• RILIS:
  
  • Lasers are in good shape and ready.
  • Non completed cold check with Bismuth ionization.
• HIE/REX:
  
  • 9-gap amplifier is being installed.   
  • Cryo-module 2 is also being installed and worked on by the vacuum group.
  • Cryo-module 1 is almost repaired. The transport has been ordered for 19^th April.
  • REX: The EBIS is ready and waiting for LHe from CERN to return.

• Control room:
  
  • The very last control elements will be installed at the end of this week.

• 508:
  
  • The just installed water funnel for the drains in the laser labs will be improved.

• Target:
  
  • Target production is on track and within schedule.

LINAC-2:

• Has problems delivering high intensity beams. The beam has diminishing intensity over time.
  
  • Tried to fix the problem by replacing cathode – did not solve the problem.
  • A bigger intervention/technical stop is maybe planned to replace the source.
    • This could take place at proton start, and could affect ISOLDE start-up, but too soon yet to say.

Physics:

• The Beryllium collections will be re-scheduled, to allow some more time for the cold check-out of the GPS at ISOLDE.
• Problems at the ISOLDE target area cannot be fixed under radioactive conditions.
• A prototype Sigradur® Ta target will replace the proposed nanostructured UCx target which had been foreseen for week 15.  

Safety:

• ISOLDE:
  
  • Next week is the security check and patrol of zones before the arrival of protons.
  • The balloons were emptied.
• VISITS:                 
  
  • The visits will be discussed at ISOLDE on site by personal involved.
• 508:
  
  • The fume hood will soon have the correct ventilation installed.

AOB:

• Summer student project:
  
  • Selections of the students are to be discussed just after this meeting.
• 508: The detector room should be emptied for workshop tools, as space is getting tight.
• Thanks to the volunteers that check through the ISOLDE data base. We had on Monday 14^th a meeting with Thierry and Tania to update the webpage.

The next ISOLDE PG meeting will be held on 23 March 2016 (if sufficient people are around…)

Minutes taken by ~TEM