12 GeV Upgrade

At the Hall D construction site, excavation for the tunnel connection is now approximately 10 feet deep, which is two feet above the existing tunnel. The excavation is an iterative process with the dewatering system. As the excavation goes deeper, additional dewatering wells are installed to further lower the water table in the area of the excavation. Next, the contractor will be installing a type of shoring called a trench box at the existing northeast stub to establish safe working conditions in the excavation for the new tunnel extension. The contractor is also installing the metal siding and roofing on the Service Building, which will house the power supplies for the Hall D beamline and tagger magnets, instrumentation racks and mechanical cooling systems.

Physics

Hall C staffers have started work on removing parts of the Short Orbit Spectrometer in preparation for its full removal next year. Signal cable, DC power and water hoses are being removed from cable trays and the flexible cable tubes under the spectrometer. After removal, the signal cables will be evaluated for possible reuse in the future Super High Momentum Spectrometer.

Accelerator

The summer scheduled accelerator down went into the second week, with tasks performed as planned. The preparation for the Polarized Electrons for Polarized Positrons project started. Removal and installation of west arc dipoles continued. Microphonics and vibration measurements were conducted on the newly installed R100 cryomodule at 2L21. Many other tasks were also performed. On Friday, a no-prior-notice emergency response exercise on the accelerator site was conducted; Newport News Fire and Rescue units participated in this exercise.

Free-Electron Laser

The FEL got the new low-conductivity cooling water system turned on again two weeks early; after it circulates for cleanup, the FEL team can put it through the FEL again. The team is engaging with vacuum and superconducting radiofrequency groups to get the FEL gun changed out; this effort is complicated by two leaky beamline valves that could contaminate the booster and also helium leaks in the booster, which makes the group nervous about warming the system up for fear of rendering it totally inoperable.

Engineering

The cryogenics group has been working with the Hall D solenoid magnet. The third coil of the four coil set has successfully passed the testing program. The coil was ramped to 1500 amps several times without incident. One coil remains to be tested.

Facilities Management and Logistics

All domestic water in the ARC will be turned off for a one-hour period beginning at 6 p.m. today, while a water system leak is repaired. During this time, there will be no water in the restrooms, kitchenettes, water fountains, labs, etc.

JLab Calendar of Events

June 1: Tidewater Regional Fire Training Academy Graduation Ceremony
June 6: Safety Shoe vendor onsite
June 6-8 Users Group Workshop and Annual Meeting
June 20: Safety Shoe vendor onsite

JLab Summer 2011 Education Calendar

May 31- June 17: Hampton University Graduate Studies
May 23 - July 29: Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship
May 23 - July 29: Research Experience for Undergraduates
June 20 - July 29: High School Summer Honors Program
June 27 – July 22: Academies Creating Teacher Scientists
July 29: Summer Intern Programs Poster Session

Environment, Safety, Health and Quality

Electrical Cord Condition – at Work and at Home
Any time you plan to use an extension cord or a power tool with an electrical cord, a visual inspection of the cord should be conducted. This is particularly true for cords that have been in use for extended periods or those that have become concealed behind equipment. Cord coverings are subject to wear and damage from age and mechanical stress, such as being bent or pinched under or behind equipment and being heated or left in contact with chemicals. Damage is often most evident near the ends, where there is more flexing and oils from the skin or other contaminants are deposited. Once the insulation is broken or cracked, the likelihood of an electric shock dramatically increases, especially if the cord is in contact with water or wet surfaces. So each time you plan to use a power tool, make sure you conduct a quick visual inspection of the tool's power cord and associated extension cord; just a few moments could prevent a potential mishap.

Computing and Networking Infrastructure

External DNS Server Outage
JLab's external DNS server, ns.jlab.org, will be offline for about 10 minutes starting at noon on Thursday, June 2. During this time, offsite users and those on the guest network may see a slowdown in offsite access.

ESnet Upgrade Set for June 7
ESnet Collaboration Services (ECS) video conferencing services is introducing a new video conferencing infrastructure based on Tandberg’s MSE 8000 chassis. The cut-over to the new video system will be June 7. The outage window will be 8 a.m.-5 p.m. PDT. This upgrade will not affect ReadyTalk audio and web collaboration. For more information, visit the Computer Center website.

Announcements

Library Update
The JLab Library is in the middle of a reconfiguration, prompted by the increasing need for space at the lab. This change will give the library a smaller physical presence and accelerate the shift to a more electronic and interactive library. Although a core set of books will be kept to maintain the research library, many books will have to be removed in order to make space. From now until Friday, June 10, staff and users may come to the Library in order to check out books on admin-loan status that might otherwise be discarded.

For more information, including the latest status and contact information, visit the Library webpage.

Fire Academy Graduation Ceremony
The Tidewater Regional Fire Training Academy will hold its class graduation ceremony and reception today in the CEBAF Center auditorium and lobby. Expect cadets’ family members to begin arriving shortly after 4 p.m. Visitors have been directed to park in the main CEBAF Center parking lot for the event.

Sign Up Your Kids for a Summer Physics Fest
This two-hour show will take place 10 a.m.-noon in the CEBAF Center auditorium. It includes a brief interactive summary of the science and technology at JLab, followed by Deep Freeze (cryogenics) and Hot Stuff (plasmas) presentations. Physics Fests are open to the general public. Reservations are required and kids must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Seating is still available for the July 13 and August 9 sessions. For reservations, call x6286 or email Steve Gagnon. For more information, visit the Physics Fest webpage.

Tracking Thomas at JLab
Little Thomas is visiting all corners of the JLab campus. If you can identify his location this week, email Kandice Carter with your guess. The first correct response will receive special recognition on this page. Guesses are accepted through Fridays.

Congratulations to David Fazenbaker, who was the first person to correctly identify the May 25 location. Honorable mentions go out to Jason Willoughby, Dena Polyhronakis, Chandra Gilchrist, Stephanie Vermeire, Sharon Hay and Connie Adams. Check out the Tracking Thomas webpage for a better view of his last location and this week's new mystery photo.