12 GeV Upgrade

In Hall C, the Super High Momentum Spectrometer (SHMS) Q2 magnet has been completely installed, connected, purged and filled with liquid helium. Low-power testing commenced on Nov. 23. The Dipole magnet has been lowered to its final position. The front wall of the shield house was installed over the Dipole, and a work platform has been erected above. Alignment of the Dipole's cryogenic control reservoir on the roof of the shield house is ongoing. Experts from the magnet manufacturer are on site to make the final superconducting connections between the current leads and the magnet coil. The last SHMS magnet, Q3, has left Europe on a ship headed to Norfolk. It is expected to arrive during the first week of December.

Reorganization of the Hall C SHMS quartz-bar hodoscope detector elements is finished. This activity placed the bars with the best photomultiplier tubes in positions near the middle of the array. Such a configuration will allow the timely demonstration of the detector performance needed to meet the 12 GeV Project construction milestone. Gas is flowing through the installed drift chambers and all connections to them are complete.

In Hall B, the five coils of the Solenoid magnet were joined into one assembly by suspending the bobbin with the four Inner and Intermediate coils inside the Shield coil bobbin. The several hundred copper “cooling fingers” are now being attached between the three radial sections of the overall coil, forming the main path to conduct heat to the helium reservoir. The inner and outer surfaces of the coil have been covered in reflective aluminum tape. Planning for shipping the Solenoid to Jefferson Lab is now underway, including design of the shipping cradle and isolation springs needed for the road trip to Virginia.

Hall B continues to install the region 3 drift chambers with five of the six in place. Part 2 of the Director’s Review of the Hall B Installation and Commissioning plan was held on Monday, Nov. 21. The committee recognized the progress made to optimize the schedule for the remaining work. However, the committee raised concerns about the current staffing level and encouraged leveraging all efforts to further advance the schedule.

Physics

Research Planned for Unique Spinning Nuclei Nets Prize
Elena Long, a postdoctoral research associate at the University of New Hampshire, has been awarded the 2016 Jefferson Science Associates Postdoctoral Research Prize for plans to build and test a new kind of target that will allow scientists to explore the physics of spinning nuclei. Read more about her research here.

Nominate A Colleague for the 2017 Outstanding Nuclear Physicist Award
JSA is now accepting nominations for the 2017 Outstanding Nuclear Physicist Award, which recognizes individuals who have made outstanding and sustained contributions, including technical achievements, to experimental and/or theoretical research related to the nuclear physics program at Jefferson Lab. The biennial award consists of a certificate and a $10,000 honorarium, presented to the honoree at the Jefferson Lab Annual Users Group meeting. Deadline for submissions is Jan. 31, 2017. See details and poster online.

Center for Theoretical and Computational Physics

A new Joint Physics Analysis Center paper studies the photoproduction of η mesons, using the framework of Finite Energy Sum Rules to match the information from the resonance region with data in the high-energy regime. This approach allows one to constrain the unknown Regge couplings, and to predict the energy dependence of the beam asymmetry at high energies.

Facilities Management and Logistics

Bicycles and Golf Carts Are Not Allowed on Walking Paths
A recent update to the Administrative Manual, Section 301.06, Traffic and Parking Management, clearly states that bicycles and golf carts are not to be ridden or driven on established walking paths on the Jefferson Lab site, except when necessary for direct access to existing charging stations or bicycle racks. It's expected that all staff, Users and subcontractors will abide by the policy. You may read the full policy here.

Jefferson Lab Calendar of Events

Dec. 2: All-Hands Meetings
Dec. 10: JAG Children's Holiday Party
Dec. 23-Jan. 2: Winter holidays and Shutdown days - Jefferson Lab closed
 

Environment, Safety, Health and Quality

Use Extra Caution When Working Near Radiological Rope Boundaries
Most of us are familiar with the use of caution signs and roped boundaries used to designate and control access to Radiologically Controlled Areas. But not all radiological areas are created equal. The hazards within may be relatively benign, or, on the other hand, inattention to boundaries or careless work practices around them could lead to unnecessary exposure or the spread of contamination to yourself and the environment.

Give radiological boundaries a little extra buffer, and if you need to work directly adjacent to a boundary, contact the Radiation Control Department for advice. Follow the simple rules below to ensure good radiological performance and maintain your dose as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA).

• Remember to read the signs. The signage will indicate the nature of the radiological conditions. Is the radiation dose rate elevated within, or is there a surface contamination hazard? The signs will tell you.
• Ropes used for boundaries represent planes that extend all the way to the next nearest solid barrier (e.g. a wall, floor, etc.). Never extend any part of your body beyond that plane. You may be risking unnecessary dose or personal contamination.
• Remember that radiation doesn’t just stop at rope boundaries. The boundaries are established based on threshold levels requiring posting of the hazard. The radiation levels adjacent to the boundary may be elevated above the local background due to the radiation sources within. Always apply the principles of ALARA, and don’t spend time unnecessarily in close proximity to radiological boundaries.

Remember, you can’t see, smell or feel radiation, so you must rely on the boundary designation to ensure your safety. Never make assumptions about radiological hazards near boundaries, and contact the Radiation Control Department if you have any questions about radiological conditions.

Computing and Networking Infrastructure

Two-Factor Authentication Cryptocard System Outage on Thursday Evening
There will be an outage of the Cryptocard (Safenet) tokens on Thursday, Dec. 1, starting at 5:30 p.m., in an effort to clean up some dependencies on old hardware. The one-time password (OTP) tokens, as well as the cell phone MP-1 tokens, will not work for authentication starting at 5:30 p.m. All tokens will start working again no later than 6:30 p.m. If you believe you will need to log in to a Linux system between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. on Thursday that requires you to use your OTP token, plan to log in prior to 5:30 p.m. If you have any questions or concerns, contact the IT Division Helpdesk at helpdesk@jlab.org or x7155.

Announcements

Tornado Warning Siren Test Set for 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 2
Jefferson Lab's tornado warning siren will undergo its monthly operational test at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 2. Don't respond to the siren; this is a test of the siren system and not a personnel response exercise. Individuals planning to be in the Central Materials Storage Area (where the siren is located) while the test is taking place must have with them and wear two layers of hearing protection.

Toys for Tots Toy Drive
Jefferson Lab will again participate in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve's annual Toys for Tots toy drive. Bring your new, unwrapped toy donations for children 1-12 years old. Collection boxes are available near the main entrances of several major Jefferson Lab buildings. The toy donations will be delivered to the Marines on Dec. 10 at the JAG Children’s Holiday Party.

Holiday Party on Dec. 10 for Jefferson Lab Children and the Young at Heart
The JAG Children’s Holiday Party is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 10, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the CEBAF Center lobby. All employees, contractors, users and their children are invited. Families are encouraged to bring a new, unopened toy for the Toys for Tots toy drive. Get your child’s picture taken with Santa Claus. Come and enjoy holiday-themed games, crafts and light snacks. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Volunteers Needed for the JAG Holiday Party
Volunteers are needed to help with the JAG Holiday Party as Bounce House, Craft Table, Food Room and Santa's Helper Elves. Adults and older children planning to attend the party are asked to consider signing up to help for one hour during the party. Sign up online today.

Ready, Set, Hang Those Decorations
JAG is also sponsoring a Holiday Office Door/Cubicle Decorating Contest. Prizes will be awarded for the Best Overall, Most Original, and Geekiest. All employees, users and contractors with an office or cubicle at Jefferson Lab may enter the contest (individuals and groups). To enter, you must email JAG Chair Mary Jo Bailey at mbailey@jlab.org, or call x7277 by 5 p.m. Dec. 16. Include your name(s), building number and office/cube location. Judging will take place Dec. 19. Winning entries will be announced Dec. 20.

Sentara Mobile Mammography Unit On-Site January 13
The Sentara Mobile Mammography Unit will be here at Jefferson Lab on January 13, 2017, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. It will be stationed in the ARC parking lot. Mammography detects breast cancer, and The American Cancer Society recommends that women with an average risk of breast cancer should undergo regular screening mammography starting at age 45. It only takes 15 minutes! This service is open to all employees as well as their family members or friends, since personal health insurances will be billed. To make an appointment, call 757-261-5420 and select option 1.

Check the Lost and Found for Your Missing Stuff
The CEBAF Center Reception Desk doubles as the Jefferson Lab Lost and Found collection point. If you’ve lost or misplaced any item over the last few months, please visit the Reception Desk to see if the item has been turned in to Lost and Found. A range of items are currently in Lost and Found, including jewelry, jackets and glasses. In addition, a bottle of medication was found before the Thanksgiving break; this item can be claimed from Occupational Medicine in the Support Service Center. To see if your missing items are in the Lost and Found, visit the CEBAF Center Reception Desk during normal business hours, Monday through Friday.

TIAA-CREF 401(k) GSRA Open Enrollment Is Underway
The 401(k) Group Supplemental Retirement Annuity (GSRA) open enrollment for calendar year 2017 will be offered through Dec. 9. If you do not enter the on-line system prior to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 9, you will automatically be enrolled in the default employee 5 percent contribution plan that is based on your current salary. All elections will be reflected in the Jan. 13 paycheck. For more information and access to the web-based enrollment system, visit the link.

Santa’s Sleigh Dogs Deliver Donations to Mayflower Marathon Food Drive
Visit the link to read about the successful food drive.

D&I Council Seeks Jefferson Lab Community Input
Lab Director Hugh Montgomery and the D&I Council are asking for your input on a survey to assess awareness of the value of diversity and inclusion following the last year of effort in this area at Jefferson Lab. This survey will be compared to the initial one conducted in 2014. It is hosted by SurveyMonkey, and your input is anonymous. You may access the survey here. To read the full memo regarding this effort, visit the webpage.