Accelerator Operations Orientation
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Program Deputy
The overall accelerator running schedule is controlled on a shift-by-shift basis by the Program Deputy (PD). During his/her two-week period of service, the PD is responsible for the accelerator program for all shifts. The day-by-day long-term schedule for running is developed well in advance by the Nuclear Physics Experiment Scheduling Committee (a copy of this schedule is posted on the web at http://www.jlab.org/exp_prog/experiment_schedule/). There is also a detailed memo from the scheduling committee that explains many considerations for upcoming running (this is very useful information).
Through meetings with the experimenters, program updates, and shift plans, the PD further refines the long-term accelerator schedule, developing it into a shift-by-shift plan of coordinated activity. The following meetings are a critical part of coordinating the accelerator schedule.
- DAILY 0745 MEETING WITH EXPERIMENT RUN COORDINATORS: This meeting is held with the Experiment Run Coordinator for each experiment that is scheduled to receive beam that day or the following day. It serves as a routine means of exchanging information concerning the operating schedule, planned activities for the next 24 hours, accelerator performance, or any other concerns that affect the scheduled program. The meeting generally occurs at 0745 in the MCC Conference Room on weekdays, and on weekends at 0830 as necessary.
- DAILY SUMMARY MEETING: Here, the PD presents the Crew Chief Shift Summaries for the previous 24 hours (or weekend), develops any necessary short-term schedule modifications, and assures that the appropriate laboratory resources are utilized as necessary to keep the accelerator program on schedule. This meeting occurs every weekday morning at 0800 in the MCC Conference Room.
- WEEKLY ACCELERATOR PLANNING MEETING: At this meeting, the PD defines the short-term operating schedule for the upcoming two-week period. The schedule is posted on the MCC Conference Room "White Board" and kept as up to date as possible at all times. This information is also routinely transcribed and posted to the World Wide Web at http://opsntsrv.acc.jlab.org/ops/MCC_whiteboard/MCC_scheduling_whiteboard.html. This meeting is held on Wednesdays at 1330 in the MCC Conference Room.
The PD integrates the information obtained at these meetings into a detailed running schedule and passes it on to the Accelerator Operators via PD Shift Plans (http://opweb.acc.jlab.org/internal/ops/pd_logs/current_logs/). At the beginning of their shift, the Operations crew reads the eight-hour shift plan, which provides detailed instructions for operations during the shift. Any changes to the PD Shift Plan (with the exception of necessary, unanticipated accesses) must be approved by the Program Deputy. The PD cell phone number is: 757-876-7997.