Minutes from ISOLDE Physics Group meeting, 8th June 2016.

No comments to the minutes from the previous PG meeting: 

Please read the minutes.

Technical news:

ISOLDE:     

• Take care with the timing environment of the controls on the ISOLDE consoles.
  
  • There can be cross-talk between two open windows on the control computer.
    • Also between the two control rooms.
    • Normal setting is NORM.USER.ALL
• GPS:
  
  • Was running Mn at 50 keV until Thursday then switched to In on Friday.
    • IDS continued Mn beam from GPS as the target on HRS developed a leak.
      • IDS collected good statistic on the decay of  67Mn.
    • It was a smooth run for SSP on GLM and GHM.
    • Target developed a leak that tripped the HT and vacuum interlocked Saturday at around 19:25 during In-run. The vacuum had slowly decreased.
      • HT and valves interlocked fast with protons (2.0 uA) on target and slowly recovered with protons off.
    • It was possible to make a few  short (10-20 min) collections with decreased protons (0.5 uA), before vacuum interlocks were activated – then one had to wait for good vacuum.
    • Before the technical stop and the end of the beamtime at 3 am on Tuesday morning, it was tested to increase the target heating slightly.
      • This “cured” the leak and it was possible to run for 7h with low protons – 0.5uA – (no time to test with 2.0 uA protons).
• HRS:
  
  • IDS took Mn beam.
    • HT dropped and needed a remote reboot, due to problems with the front-end computer.
    • HT tripped
    • Target developed a leak tripping HT and vacuum interlocks Wednesday around 19:20. 
      • HT and valves interlocked fast with protons on target and slowly recovered with protons of.
    • It was possible to run for a few hours with reduced protons (1.1 uA).
    • Gave up the target Thursday morning and cooled it down.
    • IDS could continue taking Mn beam from GPS (see above).

• RILIS:
  
  • Many changes between HRS and GPS for the Mn  and  In runs. Overall a smooth run.
    • Mn on HRS until Wednesday, then GPS from Thursday.
    • Friday In on GPS, then In on HRS.  
  • The Blaze laser stopped, but was up running again after 20 min, it was only a loss of communication.
  • For better physics, allow RILIS sufficient time to finish their tuning.

• REX/HIE:
  
  • The cathode on the EBIS appears to be OK.
  • A turbo pump was replaced.
  • Work and testing of the 7- and 9-gap amplifiers are ongoing.
  • The cooling of the Cryo module is ongoing (not yet LHe).
    • New software has been developed for better and more simple operation.

• Target:
  
  • It was not possible to get the ThO from India in time.
    • Th-Ta foils will be tested and used instead.

• Technical STOP
  
  • No protons all day Tuesday.
  • Various controls have been updated.
    • GPS magnet control was updated.
  • Keep in eye open for the changes and possible strange behaviour.

Physics:

• GPS:     
  
  • Emission Mossbauer Spectroscopy had a good In-beam until the leak developed.
    • Overall a good run and valuable data for PhD students.
  • After the leak a few collections of K were used to test the diffusion chamber.
  • An attempt was made to produce a Gd 5 yr half-life source (maybe it is not strong enough). 
• HRS:
  
  • IDS could get good statistics with the extra Mn-run on GPS after the leak on HRS.

Safety:

• Training/Access
  
  • No training next week.
    • (All) the trainers are on conference.
  • Maybe an exceptional local training could be given?
• VISITS: 
  
  • The blue visit route in the Hall is due to have various inspections, including one with the departmental safety heads and head of EP soon
• Summer students:
  
  • If the summer students need to work in hall ISOLDE group will buy the safety shoes. They should stay at ISOLDE after use by the summer student for the common safety shoe pool.

AOB:

• ISOLDE:
  
  • Please do not call operators in case of HT trips as this is a basic operation that should be known by USERS.
    •  Basic training of USERS should be assured, especially for those on the night shift.
  • The “storage hut” for used (laser) liquids is at its final location outside the SAS.
  • A LHe cryostat has been temporary setup by the Mossbauer group in the hall extension to prepare for physics in week 30-31.
  • The crane seems to be moving too fast, be aware!
  • Thierry from TISD/MEDICIS was on Swiss radio last week: https://www.rts.ch/la-1ere/programmes/cqfd/7733666-cqfd-du-02-06-2016.h…
  • Question about why ISOLDE has not been running at 60 keV?
    • Users are suspicious of whether 60kV is stable and choose 50kV as a safer choice, but 60kV should be tested.
• Summer students:
  
  • The first student has arrived.
  • 1 student had problems in getting the the certificate for access to radiation zone signed by the home institution .
    • A solution is investigated, but needs to be addressed to avoid similar situations in the future.
• INTC:
  
  • 18 documents received, 13 proposals, 1 CLL and 4 LOIs.   

The next ISOLDE PG meeting will be held on 15 June 2016 followed by a seminar Philippe Goldner, "Rare Earth Doped Crystals for Quantum Memories".

Minutes taken by ~TEM