Minutes from ISOLDE Physics Group meeting, 1st June 2016.

No comments to the minutes from the previous PG meeting: 

Please read the minutes.

Technical news:

ISOLDE:     

• GPS:
  
  • Was running Mn at 50 keV, but also 30 keV for solid state physics.
  • Had some start-up problems with low yields for 1 day.
    • Re-tuning the separator and the extraction electrode was investigated. It turned out that the RILIS needed some fine-tuning due to a slight misalignment of the beam
      • Once noticed, this was a quick fix and thereafter the Mn yields were good.

• HRS:
  
  • IDS did stable beam from HRS.
    • The transmission suddenly changed and dropped to 50 % after an intervention of replacing a power supply of the kicker just before IDS (YRC2.KIK70).
      • The kicker was 10% off value.
      • IDS was not informed about this intervention.
    • Yields with the target convertor were not enough to see 67-Mn. They sent the protons directly into the target.
      • Hitting the converter result in more than a factor of 10 drop in yields.
    • The HT dropped and went into an unknown state. This state keeps the HT field in the system green, which leads to great confusion for the USERS and Operators.
      • This issue will be investigated further.

• RILIS:
  
  • Ionizing Mn on GPS, then they changed to Mn on HRS.
  • On Friday morning they will ionize In on GPS until Monday morning.  
  • Good news – The Blaze laser is repaired and back.
• REX/HIE:
  
  • A dying, wailing turbo pump was replaced.
  • The cathode on the EBIS showed some signs of poisoning, although partly corrected with an injection of O2, there is a possibility it may need to be replaced, which would require 10 days.
  • RF tests are ongoing and tuning of warm Cryo-module (100 K).
  • Cryo-module will soon be cooled down.
• Target:
  
  • There is a shortage of target containers/housings.
  • 2 UCx targets will be produced on time.
  • Issues with import of ThO from India, this will not arrive in time.
    • Alternative compressed ThO powder pills will be used.
• Technical STOP:
  
  • Some re-scheduling will be made due to a CERN technical stop planned on Tuesday.
    • This means no protons for ISOLDE during the STOP.
    • The stop will be 8 hours, and coincides with a target change on HRS.

Physics:

• GPS:     
  
  • Emission Mossbauer Spectroscopy (eMS) had a slow start due to low 57-Mn yields, but after RILIS was fine-tuned good yields were obtained. 
    • eMS could complete first priority samples and had a record of 51 sample changes.
    • With the good yields opportunistic physics could also be investigated. 
    • After a short break eMS will then run laser ionised 119In.
  • Emission Channelling also had a good run measuring 7 samples.
    • Investigated dilute magnetic semiconductors and topological insulators.
    • Will continue with testing Sn and In probes for EC. 
• HRS:
  
  • IDS will measure the half-life of exited states in the N=40 region (65,67-Fe and Co).
    • The data look fine, although the yields are on the low side.
  • In the coming run on HRS IDS will measure 130,132,133-In.

Safety:

• ISOLDE:
  
  • There was a meeting in order to define and clarify areas of responsibilities at ISOLDE between the different departments.
    • The 508 building was transferred to EP and Karl will be the TSO.
• Training/Access
  
  • The hands-on training courses are once per week on Tuesdays.
  • Training from 2014 is still valid for access, a period of 3 years is considered.
  • More info on accessing/training will be listed on the ISOLDE homepage.

• VISITS:                 
  
  • There were 3 visits this week.
    • No visits of groups in the coming week.
  • The visitors route in the hall is now well defined.
    • A pipe on the stairs going up to RILIS was modified.

AOB:

• INTC:
  
  • The deadline was Wed. 01.06.2016.
• 508:
  
  • The return cooling water funnel will soon be remade in the Laser labs.
  • A temporary A/C system has been installed in the DAQ room until the permanent cooling system will be in place.
• ISOLDE:
  
  • Please clean up after finishing an experiment (etc. no used gloves laying around) and tidy up the experimental areas.
  • It would be very beneficial to have a remote camera system at the experiments in the hall linked to the DAQ room in 508 – in order to minimize the stay in the hall and at the setups during run.
    • A budget is investigated (Maybe Safety could contribute as this camera system would reduce exposure).
• Summer students:
  
  • The first students are soon to arrive.
• ENSAR2:
  
  • CERN has started taking overhead resulting in a 33% reduced budget.
    • The daily allowance has been reduced from 138 CHF to 120 CHF (13%). 

The next ISOLDE PG meeting will be held on 8. June 2016 followed by a seminar “Lorenz Willmann, "Investigating Discrete Symmetry Violations with Rare Isotopes" .

Minutes taken by ~TEM