Jefferson Lab Weekly Briefs October 3, 2012

Jefferson Lab Weekly Briefs
October 3, 2012

Physics

Hall C technical staff have started removing the large concrete pad in Hall C. This raised floor was installed for the hypernuclear spectroscopy experiments (unofficially dubbed "Hashimoto Highway") and allowed the High Resolution Kaon Spectrometer and the High Resolution Electron Spectrometer to be moved around the hall as needed. Staff from the lab, Old Dominion University and Tel Aviv University have transferred most of the decommissioned CLAS back-angle time of flight scintillator paddles to new frames. These frames serve to store the scintillators in a compact fashion and will also support the detectors in Hall C, where they will be used for future experiments needing backward proton and neutron detection.

JSA Accepting Applications for 2013 Outstanding Nuclear Physicist Award
The JSA Programs Committee established the Outstanding Nuclear Physicist Award to recognize individuals who have made outstanding and sustained contributions, including technical achievements, to experimental and/or theoretical research related to the nuclear physics program at JLab. The biennial award consists of a certificate and a $10,000 honorarium, presented to the honoree at the JLab Annual Users Group meeting. Travel for the recipient is provided by JSA. Nomination packages are due by Jan. 11, 2013.

It's Official: Coffee is the Fuel of Science
A 2011 survey of regular coffee drinkers has found what many would consider to be obvious: scientists are coffee fiends (see the handy graphic here). Another study may reveal clues to the root cause of that coffee addiction. It found that scientists often work outside normal business hours, including nights and weekends. The study looked at the time of day research papers were downloaded. Here's the link to the original study on arXiv, so that you can enjoy it while sipping your favorite form of java.

Free-Electron Laser

The Darklight cube has been removed and good progress has been made restoring the infrared machine. The ultraviolet machine has been vented and a piece of beamline removed to receive the ring resonator optical transport. Several FEL staff, as well as others from the lab, participated in a workshop at Fermilab on next generation light sources.

Center for Theoretical and Computational Physics

A new study has investigated the model dependence of meson resonance properties extracted from the Dalitz-plot analysis of three-pion photoproduction reactions on the nucleon. For broad or overlapping resonances, the meson properties from the isobar model are found to be rather different from those of the unitary model. The findings illustrate the importance of constraining the amplitude parametrization by the three-particle unitarity condition when extracting meson resonance properties, which will be relevant for the forthcoming GlueX experiment.

Engineering

The Machine Shop is presently manufacturing or continuing to manufacture:

  • Magnet re-manufacturing areas are set up and operational, and 48 re-manufactured magnets have been delivered for reassembly;
  • Hall-B’s CLAS12 High Threshold Cerenkov Counter (HTCC) Mold Mirror Facet Blocks 2 and 3 are being cut to size;
  • 170 dipole-lengthening shims for the 12 GeV Upgrade have been manufactured (these are being final machined as the cores are being modified); and
  • Girder modifications for the upgrade quadrupoles are being processed as they are made available.

The shop has processed 219 job requests since Aug. 13.

JLab Calendar of Events

Oct. 4-5: GlueX Collaboration Meeting
Oct. 9: Science Series: You Already Know This Physics!
Oct. 10-13: CLAS Collaboration Meeting
Oct. 15: Safety Shoe Vendor onsite
Oct. 17: Colloquium and Public Lecture
Oct. 23: American Red Cross Blood Drive
Oct. 24: JAG Oktoberfest
Oct. 29: Safety Shoe Vendor onsite

Environment, Safety, Health and Quality

Fire Deaths at Work
In September, fires started by poor electrical systems ripped though two factories in Pakistan - killing almost 300 people in a garment factory and 25 in an illegal shoe factory. Contributing to the tragedies were insufficient exits (no dedicated fire exits), locked or blocked existing exits, bar-covered windows, and no fire-resistant storage of flammable and/or toxic byproduct-producing chemicals. While we in the U.S. take many of our workplace safety items for granted, a similar fire occurred about a century ago. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire killed several hundred people, mostly young women.

Here at JLab, safety programs are in place to identify and eliminate similar hazards. When a Safety Warden or other JLab staff member conducts a monthly walk-through, always be respectful of the staffer's observations.  When he or she insists on precautions that ensure safety items are accessible or chemicals are stored a certain way, these staffers are looking out for your safety and that of your co-workers. Whenever you are asked to perform a task, to change a procedure or to move items to meet safety guidelines, be willing to discuss the situation with the Safety Warden or staffer, so that together, you can quickly eliminate any hazards, while also improving your own work flow or space.

Computing and Networking Infrastructure

JLab Computing: Preferred Browser Use at JLab
The patch for Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) that was released by Microsoft and applied by the CNI group has been successful in preventing an exploit of IE that was being used to infect unsuspecting users' computers with malicious software. Those who need to use IE in the course of their JLab business are now free to do so. The CNI group and the cyber security team asks that anyone who uses IE on a regular basis to consider making Firefox their preferred web browser when possible. Firefox is currently available for users of Microsoft Windows, Apple OS X, Linux and Android operating systems. It is the browser that is preferentially installed and supported by the IT Division Helpdesk. As a reminder, any time you experience difficulties with your computer, reboot to see if that fixes the problem before calling the IT Division Helpdesk, x7155, for assistance.

Announcements

Spy Games Colloquium and Public Lecture on Oct. 17
Edward Held, Director of the Office of Intelligence & Counterintelligence at DOE will present "The Real James Bond: Sidney Reilly and the Origins of Modern Espionage" in a colloquium and public lecture in the CEBAF Center auditorium on Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 4 p.m. Sidney Reilly was the true-life model for the fictional super-spy James Bond. But Bond’s espionage exploits pale in comparison to Reilly’s actual exploits. The speaker, Held, is responsible for all intelligence and counterintelligence activities throughout the DOE complex, including over 30 intelligence and counterintelligence offices nationwide.

Science Series: You Already Know This Physics!
Join JLab Electrical Engineer Jack McKisson, a member of the Radiation Detector and Imaging group, for a look at physics and the phenomena of nature and how they have been discovered and recognized by early researchers in a fall Science Series lecture on Oct. 9. He will touch on the science and technology involved in: rocket science, taking under sea measurements, radiation detection and measurement, space experimentation and his two expeditions to the Antarctic. Science Series programs are free and open to students and adults with an interest in science. The presentation will begin at 7 p.m., in the CEBAF Center auditorium. For more information, visit the Science Series webpage.

New E-Commerce System Is Coming
Working together, MIS and Procurement are planning to launch a new e-commerce system in late November. The system will provide a web-based platform to a wide range of vendor sites, and the majority of our current vendors will be available via the new system. The system will feature several benefits, such as listing the amount of stock on-hand, showing the back-order status of items before placing an order, and volume pricing discounts as well as GSA or better pricing. The current Stockroom catalog and Free-Stock will also be available through the same site (but as static catalogs, as they are today). Expect future announcements regarding the system rollout in the near future.

Sign Up to Play Cornhole at Oktoberfest!
The annual Oktoberfest, held by the Jefferson Activities Group, is set for Wednesday, Oct. 24, 3-6 p.m. This year's event will also feature a Cornhole Tournament. You must pre-register to compete. To register for the tournament and for more information, contact Mike Zarecky, x7609, by Monday, Oct. 22.

Virginia Beach Commute Got You Down? Vanpool Event Is For You
Enterprise Rideshare is partnering with Hampton Roads Transit's Traffix to do a showcase on Vanpool at the Silverleaf Commuter Station in Virginia Beach on Oct. 6, 9-11:30 a.m. If you are interested in becoming part of a rideshare program, you can learn more at this event.

Register Now for the JLab 2012 Fall Golf Outing
The tourney will kick off at noon with a shotgun start on Friday, Oct. 19, at the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club (Green Course) in Williamsburg, Va. The format will be a handicapped Captains Choice. Each foursome must include at least two JLab employees. The cost for JLab employees (you qualify if you receive a paycheck from JSA - Jefferson Science Associates, LLC) is $60. The cost for non-JLab employees is $75. The cost includes range balls, green fees, cart, food after the tournament and the prize fund. Mulligans will be sold at the course. To sign up, bring your average score for 18 holes and a check payable to Mike Zarecky to ARC 500/47. The deadline for registering for the tournament is Friday, Oct. 12. If you have questions, contact Danny Machie, x7501 or Mike Zarecky, x7609.

Onsite Blood Drive Set for Tuesday, Oct. 23
The next American Red Cross Blood Drive is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 23, 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. To schedule an appointment, contact Johnie Banks, x7539.

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. Guesses are accepted through Friday.

Congratulations this week go to Samika Hawkins, who was the first to correctly identify the location for Sept. 26. Honorable mentions go to John Kelly, Doug Higinbotham, Ryan Bodenstein, Anusha Liyanage, Lori Zukerman, Keith Harding and Kelly Tremblay. Check out the Tracking Thomas webpage for a better view of his last location and this week's new mystery photo.