12 GeV Upgrade

Discussions with the prospective klystron vendors continue with some clarifications transmitted to the vendors. Similar discussions are being held with the potential vendors for the four meter beam transport dipole magnets and the technical evaluations of the bids for the beam transport quadrupole fabrication continue. The prototype digital board, RF (radiofrequency) board and chassis for the low-level RF controls have been assembled together, and testing of the integrated package is underway.

Physics

During the holiday break, a target water calibration was performed, the target cell was replaced and cosmics data were taken with BigBite in positive polarity in Hall A. Experiments E06-010, Measurement of Single Target-Spin Asymmetry in Semi-Inclusive Pion-Electroproduction on a Transversely Polarized ³He Target, and E07-013, Target Normal Single-Spin Asymmetry in Inclusive DIS n(e,e') with a polarized ³He Target, are ready to resume taking production data, two days earlier than on the schedule.

JSA Accepting Applications for Graduate Fellowships at JLab
JSA will award up to eight fellowships to doctoral students at SURA member universities for research related to JLab. Interested applicants should download and complete the application form and provide the reference form to three individuals for letters of recommendation. Details and an application can be found online. Applications are due by Feb. 15.


JSA Accepting Applications for Sabbatical and Research Leave Support at JLab
JSA will award living expense support for up to two faculty members from SURA member universities who will be on sabbatical or research leave at JLab. Awardees must undertake full-time research at JLab for the duration of an award. Interested applicants should visit the Jefferson Science Associates, LLC, website for more information and application instructions. Application materials are due by Feb. 15.

Accelerator

After the holiday break, accelerator operations personnel reconfigured the electron gun at 85 kV and restored the accelerator with five-pass pulsed beam to the Beam Switchyard. The nominal gun voltage is 100 kV, but it was found that the gun exhibits field emission at this voltage. The low gun voltage will lower the field emission, which, in turn, may extend the lifetime of the gun. Some maintenance was performed on RF (radio frequency) modules, magnets and diagnostics system. Seven shifts were spent doing beam studies and training. Ops started continuous wave (CW) beam delivery to Hall A on owl shift on Jan. 14.

Free-Electron Laser (FEL)

The FEL resumed operations this week after a nearly two-week-long holiday. For those who missed the news, FEL staff successfully re-established lasing, and the machine is now operating using several sets of mirrors for short wavelength, broad band and high-power output. Three days of operation were spent setting up the machine carefully for medium-power CW operation. Over the holiday, the Advanced Energy Systems booster module was successfully tested, achieving 12.5 - 17 MV/m in the 750 MHz cavities and successfully operating the third harmonic cavity up to our rf power limit of 4 MV/m. 

Theory Center

Last week, Theory Center staff took part in a focused two-day meeting to set out priorities for the Theory Center over the next few years, particularly in view of the quadrennial review of theory groups at national labs coming up this spring. Also discussed were efforts to recruit graduate students and the role of the group in supporting the JLab experimental program.

Engineering

The installation group acid flushed the Moeller quads and tagger magnets in Line B leading to the hall. The survey and alignment group aligned the target ladder in Halls A and C. With assistance from Hall B staff, the Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering (DVCS) mapper was surveyed; in addition, the Hall B target was re-fiducialized to add more points to assist with locating the target when it is installed in the torus magnet.

JLab's Safety Numbers

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

JLab Calendar of Events

Jan. 15: Users Group Board of Directors Meeting
Jan. 19: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day holiday - JLab closed
Jan. 23: American Red Cross Blood Drive
Jan. 26-30: PAC 34
Feb. 7: Virginia Regional High School Science Bowl

Environment, Safety, Health & Quality

For those Jefferson Lab personnel planning to attend the Inauguration Day activities on Tuesday, Jan. 20, go prepared.

The Red Cross is arranging for mass care and shelter operations in case of unforeseen issues. Communications regarding contingency supplies of food, water and hygiene essentials have been issued; hotel rooms are booked within a 200-mile radius of Washington, D.C., and all personal vehicles will be restricted from traveling from Virginia into Washington, D.C., on Inauguration Day. Access to portable toilets will be very limited; additionally, water, air and personal item security will be more thorough than normal. Prohibited items along the inaugural route include backpacks, duffel bags, thermoses, strollers and umbrellas. Food or beverages will not be available inside the ceremony perimeter; the only food-related items allowed will be small snacks that can be carried on your person. An extensive list can be found online. Surrendered items will not be returned.

Since personal vehicles are restricted from traveling from Virginia into Washington, D.C., motorists planning to drive or carpool to the event must use an alternative form of transportation to enter the city. This includes the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) and Metrorail subway/bus service. All Virginia bus routes that serve Metrorail stations will provide free service for the day. More transportation information can be found on the Inauguration website.

Thus, if you're planning on a day trip, please ensure that you understand the limitations and prepare appropriately. This includes bringing medication, drinking water, personal hygiene products, warm clothing and care for any dependents that may accompany you. Click the link for more information on Inauguration Day preparations and activities.

Computing and Networking Infrastructure (CNI)

Ten Best Tips to Keep Your Computer Running Smoothly
A free newsletter offered by the SANS (SysAdmin, Audit, Network, Security) Institute offers a comprehensive security strategy that ordinary computer users can follow, from plugging your computer into the outlet and connecting to the Internet, to keeping out the bad guys and preparing for disaster. The number one tip reminds users to always plug their computers in through a surge protector. The full list can be accessed on the SANS Institute website.

Announcements

Time to Update Federal, State Tax Withholdings
If you have had a life change – marriage, divorce, birth of a child, loss of a dependent, or change in exempt status – since you last filed a Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate, you may want to file an amended Form W-4 with JLab’s Payroll Department. Additionally, those employees who claimed “exempt” from withholding for 2008 must complete a new Form W-4 by Feb. 15 to keep their exempt status.

Employees can view their current withholding exemptions and make changes through the Employee Self Service System (ESS). The forms are also available on the Internal Revenue Service and Virginia Department of Taxation websites. The Commonwealth of Virginia VA-4 Personal Exemption Worksheet is also available online. For additional assistance, contact Sharon Hay at x7620, or Janet Smith at x7503.

TIAA-CREF Retirement Counseling Sessions
The winter and spring dates for individual counseling sessions are now posted. This is an opportunity to discuss the current status of your account, investment strategy and retirement goals. The dates include Feb. 5, March 5, April 17, May 14 and May 15. To sign up for an appointment, go to the TIAA-CREF website, click on Meetings & Counseling and follow the menu. The sessions will be held in VARC 42.

American Red Cross Blood Drive
The next American Red Cross Blood Drive is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 23 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. in CEBAF Center, Room F113. New and repeat donors are encouraged to attend. Appointments and walk-ins are welcome. Contact Johnie Banks at x7539 or jbanks@jlab.org to schedule an appointment or to volunteer. Click the link to view eligibility guidelines.

HRSD Seeks Applications for Pollution Prevention Award
The Hampton Roads Sanitation District seeks applications for the 2008 HRSD Pollution Prevention Awards, recognizing industrial and commercial dischargers for outstanding multi-media P2 efforts. HRSD seeks nominations that look beyond traditional treatment, control and disposal methods, and instead, focuses on source reduction techniques (ways to avoid generating waste). Emphasis is on wastewater discharges, but other media (air and land) are given strong consideration. If you have a submission suggestion, contact Linda Even at x7308 or lle@jlab.org by Friday, Jan. 30. You will need to provide a description of the project, program or technology.