12 GeV Upgrade

The first coil for the Q1 quadrupole magnet for the Hall C Super High Momentum Spectrometer has been wound and tested at Scientific Magnetics. The design for the DC power supplies for the SHMS magnets has been reviewed and approved; fabrication will start soon. The copper stabilizer for the superconducting cable is complete, and preparations are underway to start production soldering of the cable to the stabilizer, in preparation for the start of coil winding for the SHMS Q2 and Q3 quadrupole magnets and the dipole magnet. The first of the five cryogenic control reservoirs for the five magnets has been shipped to Michigan State University for the horizontal bend (HB) magnet and the second reservoir is awaiting shipment to Scientific Magnetics. A series of procurements has started for the various sections of the SHMS support structure, with the plan to have all released by the end of FY 2011.

Physics

In Hall A, the triple coincidence short-range correlations experiment ran very smoothly last week. The experiment ran on two kinematics, with the second one continuing. In the first setting, the collaboration obtained approximately 100 triple coincidence measurements and 10,000 (e,e'p) for 1.3 Coulombs of data. For the more recent kinematics, the rate is roughly half that and only ~5 triples per shift. The experiment is running according to plan and the data looks good.

Due Friday: APS Award Nominations for Early Career Physicists
Established by APS's Division of Particles and Fields (DPF) and endowed by the Henry Primakoff Lecture Fund, the Henry Primakoff Award for Early-Career Particle Physics will recognize promising young physicists. Nominations are due April 1.

Due Friday: 2012 APS Fellowship Submissions
APS members are eligible for nomination and election to APS Fellowship. Each nomination is evaluated by the fellowship committee of the appropriate APS division, topical group or forum. Check your unit for exact deadlines. Most nominations close April 1.

Accelerator

Last week, the CEBAF accelerator delivered beam to Hall A with 92 percent beam availability. On Friday, Hall B started to take beam for calibration of the photon tagger focal plane. Hall C was down due to beamline vacuum problems in its dump area. During beam studies, the X-Y coupling in the injector was minimized, and the 70 Megahertz noise in the injector was eliminated, to improve beam quality for Q-weak; the injector laser spot was moved to boost the current. 

Free-Electron Laser

The FEL team concluded its vacuum ultraviolet lasing studies in Lab 1. The UV wiggler has now been removed from the FEL building for magnet shipment back to Cornell and jaw shipment to STI Optronics for mounting the Argonne wiggler. The infrared beamline was reconnected to the magnet power supplies in preparation for lasing operations, which commenced this week.

Computational and Theoretical Physics

Mixed systems of N-pions and M-kaons for N + M ≤ 12 are studied in a new paper <arXiv:1103.4362> using lattice QCD to extract the various two- and three-body interactions that occur between pions and kaons. The ground state energies of these systems determine the isospin and strangeness chemical potential. These are found to be in the region where chiral perturbation theory and hadronic models predict a phase transition between a pion condensed phase and a kaon condensed phase.

Engineering

The Engineering Radiofrequency (EESRF) group has been working on the 12 GeV radiofrequency system in the south linac. The new power supply was received and has been installed in one of the zones. The group has also installed RF control electronics in the same zone to begin testing the control networks. Two engineers recently returned from the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory in South Korea after successfully performing tests using JLab-designed RF control electronics on the lab's accelerating cavities.

JLab Calendar of Events

April 8-9: QCD Evolution Workshop
April 11: Safety Shoe vendor onsite
April 11-15: DIS2011
April 19: Science Series Lecture - The Science of Chocolate
April 20: JLab's Annual Region II Teacher Night
April 25: Safety Shoe vendor onsite

Environment, Safety, Health and Quality

This year, OSHA celebrates 40 years protecting working men and women. In 1970, about 14,400 workers died on the job in the U.S., with an injury/illness rate of about 10.9 workers out of every 100 workers. By 2009, the numbers dropped to 4,400 deaths and fewer than four injuries/illnesses per 100 workers.
 
At JLab, the daily efforts of everyone, combined with work control practices and safety and health educational programs, help prevent injuries/illnesses and situations where death can occur. With the many facility changes and simultaneous jobs now taking place at JLab, there is a need to be more aware of the work around us and to follow appropriate procedures, so no one becomes a statistic.

Computing and Networking Infrastructure

Network Outage in CEBAF Center
The CNI group is planning a 30-45 minute network outage at 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 31, in the A and B wings of CEBAF Center. The outage will allow an upgrade of network equipment. If you need more information, contact the IT Division Helpdesk.

Announcements

An App in Every iPot
Do you develop apps for Apple or Android products? Would you have an interest in sitting down with others from around the lab complex to exchange ideas and, perhaps, propose new apps for the JLab community? If your answer is yes, send a note expressing your interest to Dean Golembeski. Public Affairs is interested in hearing your ideas about apps and how these apps could enhance the lab's internal and external communication and outreach efforts.

Due Today: JLab 2011 T-shirt Contest Entries
The Jefferson Activities Group is accepting entries for the JLab 2011 T-shirt contest through close of business today. Visit the JAG website link above for entry requirements. The winning design will be unveiled at JLab's annual Run-A-Round, and the winning designer(s) will receive a free T-shirt and recognition. View past winning T-shirt designs.

Don't Talk to Oprah Until You Call Public Affairs
What do you do if a journalist or other media representative calls you to ask a question about JLab or your work? What do you do if you are invited to participate in a radio, TV or other news program? The answers to these and other business-related issues can be found in the lab’s Administrative Manual. The manual spells out procedures by which the lab operates, including procedures for finance, property management, procurement, outreach programs and more. As to the questions posed above, if you are contacted by a representative of the media, the policy states that you are to contact Public Affairs prior to releasing any information. Public Affairs will then work with you and/or the media organization in determining an appropriate response or course of action.

Interested in Golf?
Come out and join the JLab Golf League. The league will start play April 4, and play will continue through September. Team members play Monday evenings at Newport News Golf Club, starting around 4:30 p.m. No experience is necessary. If you are interested and would like more information, ask one of the people already in the Golf League or call Danny Machie, x7501, or Mike Zarecky, x7609. Check out additional details and see who is already in the Golf League at the Golf League webpage.

Sling a Softball with JLab Co-workers
The JLab coed softball team is gearing up for the 2011 spring/summer season. The team plays in the York County Coed Industrial League on Friday nights, April through July. A practice is scheduled for Sunday, April 3. To express an interest in joining the team or for more information, email Kandice Carter as soon as possible.

Tracking Thomas at JLab
Little Thomas headed back outside this week. If you can identify his location, email Kandice Carter with your guess. The first correct response will receive special recognition on this page. Guesses are accepted through Fridays.

Congratulations to Saptarshi Mandal, who was the first person to identify the correct March 23 location. Honorable mentions go out to Jeff Wilson and Doug Higinbotham. Check out the Tracking Thomas webpage for a better view of his last location and this week's new mystery photo.