12 GeV Upgrade

Construction on the solenoid and toroid magnets for CLAS12 in Hall B is proceeding at Wang NMR in California, with system and first manufacturing readiness reviews held in the past two months. Short sample tests of the superconducting cable for the solenoid are underway prior to preparation for winding. The support structure for a first sector of the region 2 drift chamber for CLAS12 has been assembled in the recently refurbished clean room at JLab. The wire stringing using this structure will start later this spring as a joint effort among Old Dominion University, Idaho State University and JLab. Test extrusions of scintillator for the Pre-Shower Calorimeter (PCAL) for CLAS12 recently concluded successfully at Fermilab, with the production extrusion to follow in the next months. Work on components for PCAL, such as photomultiplier tubes, wavelength-shifting fibers and splitters is proceeding apace at James Madison University, Norfolk State University, Ohio University and The College of William & Mary, all supported by a successful collaborative NSF-MRI grant.

Physics

In Hall C, installation for the Q-weak experiment continues. The region 3 rotator, which will hold wire chambers for tracking, has been installed downstream of the Q-weak toroidal magnet. A shielding wall with eight cutouts for scattered particles is being installed between the magnet and the rotator. Final preparations are underway for testing and mapping of the magnet. Restoration of the beamline has started, the four chicane magnets for the new Compton polarimeter have been placed, and the Moller polarimeter solenoid has been moved back into the beamline tunnel to its new location.

Announcing a Professional Networking Site for Physicists
AIP UniPHY is the world's first literature-based professional social networking site for physical scientists. The site allows physicists, engineers and other scientists to directly connect with and explore their professional contacts and to identify researchers with the expertise needed for future collaborations.

Accelerator

The redesigned/rebuilt injector produced 121μA continuous wave current for the first time since all the changes were initiated. There was a combined DOE and JLab safety assessment tour during the week. Commissioning of the newly installed cryomodules in the North Linac is underway. Work was started on bringing the RF cavities in both linacs, wherever possible, into RF operation for the first time since the Scheduled Accelerator Down started. Overall, it is going very well. Hot checkout has begun of all accelerator systems; this is a critical part of preparing for scheduled beam operations on March 11. Personnel Safety System certifications are proceeding smoothly on swing shifts.

Free-Electron Laser

The shielding blocks are back in place at the FEL and the gun test stand. Optical cans for the ultraviolet system have been put in place and the new cryomodule is being hooked up to the radiofrequency system. Beamlines are back in place for the infrared and UV magnetic transport.

Theory Center

The Roper P₁₁(1440) resonance is the lowest-lying excitation with the same quantum numbers as the nucleon; however, its properties have proven difficult to explain in terms of a simple three-quark structure. Recently, a relativistic quark model of the nucleon structure was extended to the Roper resonance <arXiv:1002.3386 [hep-ph]>, without introducing additional parameters, and applied to calculate the electromagnetic nucleon to Roper transition form factor.  The model describes very well both the high-Q² data (Q² > 2 GeV²) and the lattice QCD data and is used to estimate the quark-antiquark content of the system that dominates at low Q².

Facilities Management & Logistics

JLab Campus Electrical Change
Dominion Virginia Power provides electric power to the campus portion of the site by a 7.5 MVa substation currently southwest of the Test Lab. The upgrade and relocation of this substation is underway to support the upcoming Technology and Engineering Development Facility (TEDF) and other planned construction projects. To facilitate this upgrade, the source of all campus electrical power was transferred to the accelerator substation on Feb. 17. The 7.5 MVa substation will be removed by the end of February to allow other construction starting in March. A 22 MVA replacement substation will be installed in the new clearing behind the Test Lab between March and May. During this period, the lab will only have one source of power for both the accelerator and campus, which is the 40 MVA Substation. In addition to supporting the TEDF project, the substation upgrade will allow for a future project increasing the tie line between the campus and accelerator substations and will benefit restarting of the Central Helium Liquefier after accelerator site power outages. If you have questions, contact Paul Powers, x7258.

Environment, Safety, Health & Quality

The recent recall of Toyota vehicles underlines how critical it is for consumers to have a one-stop shop for recalled products. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products. Visit the CPSC website for information on more than 4,500 product recalls and recall alerts.

Computing and Networking Infrastructure

Linux/Mac Printing Changes
The CNI group has begun supporting printing via a central CUPS server for use on both Unix/Linux and Macintosh systems. Users can go online to find out how to configure and use this printing method. The previous use of PDQ and XPDQ will be discontinued on March 1. If you have questions or concerns, you may contact the Helpdesk at x7155.

New General Purpose Solaris System Available
A new general purpose login server, jlabs3, is available to all users and staff at JLab. This system is running Solaris 10 and will be replacing the current general purpose systems: jlabs1 and jlabs2. If you cannot use the central linux systems (jlabl1, jlabl2 and jlabl3), then begin using jlabs3, since jlabs1 and jlabs2 will be taken out of service in the near future. If you have any questions or concerns, e-mail or call Kelvin Edwards, x7770.

Announcements

JLab’s 2010 Benefits Open Enrollment Ends Tuesday
Benefits Open Enrollment in now being offered via the Employee Self Service System to all regular and term staff employees through March 2. To see 2010 benefit descriptions and changes, visit the Human Resources Benefits webpage.

Annual T-Shirt Design Contest Underway
The deadline for submissions for the 25th Annual JLab T-shirt Design Contest is March 26. Submissions should be in color, on 8.5x11 paper and include a front (pocket) and back design. Submission rules and past winning designs are posted on the JAG website.

Free H1N1 Flu Vaccination Clinics Offered Locally
H1N1 vaccinations are being offered free of charge through February. On Wednesdays, a clinic is held at Sentara Port Warwick from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4 p.m.-7 p.m. On Thursdays, a clinic is offered on the Sentara CarePlex Hospital Campus at the Hampton River Medical Arts Building from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4 p.m.-8 p.m. More detailed information can be found on the Occupational Medicine webpage.

Restoration of the USS Monitor
David Krop, The Mariners' Museum Monitor conservation project manager, will discuss the ongoing efforts to conserve and exhibit the iconic Civil War ironclad USS Monitor at a Science Series event on Tuesday, March 2. The audience will learn about the complex methods and procedures used to treat the ship's revolving gun turret, steam engine, Dahlgren guns and carriages, as well as numerous small artifacts like personal items from the crew. The event will start at 7 p.m. and last about an hour. It is free and open to anyone interested in learning more about science.

SciGirls Shows Girls Digging Science
SciGirls is a new show for kids ages 8-12 that is designed to spark a girl's curiosity in science, technology, engineering and math. The show is all about hands-on science inquiry. Participants learn the scientific process, work collaboratively to investigate meaningful questions and see how STEM helps people solve problems, achieve goals and help others. On the SciGirls website, you'll find activities to help extend the learning goals of SciGirls, tips for raising science-savvy girls and information about the show.

JLab's Safety Numbers

33 Days since Last Recordable Accident (JLab record: 331)
33 Days since Last Lost Workday Accident (JLab record: 676)

JLab Calendar of Events

Feb. 25: Safety Shoe Vendor onsite
Feb. 27: Virginia Regional High School Science Bowl
March 2: Science Series Lecture: Restoration of the USS Monitor
March 6: Virginia Regional Middle School Science Bowl
March 10: Colloquium: Physics and Forensics
March 25: Safety Shoe Vendor onsite
May 1: Jefferson Lab Open House