Jefferson Lab Weekly Briefs May 15, 2013

Jefferson Lab Weekly Briefs
May 15, 2013

12 GeV Upgrade

At the request of DOE's Office of Nuclear Physics, Daniel Lehman, director of the Office of Project Assessment in DOE's Office of Science, convened a team of 20 experts and 14 observers in an Independent Project Review of the 12 GeV CEBAF Upgrade Project at Jefferson Lab on May 7-9. The purpose of the review was to assess all aspects of the project as it re-establishes the DOE Performance Baseline due to a directed change that reduced the FY12 congressional appropriation. The review team concluded that the project is ready to move forward with the proposed re-baseline following implementation of review recommendations.

Physics

Last Chance for Users Group Annual Meeting Advance Registration
May 17 is the deadline for completing advance registration for the Jefferson Lab Users Group Annual Meeting. To see the program, register and find additional information, visit the meeting webpages. Graduate students who attend can take advantage of many incentives, including free registration, free lunches with speakers, and the poster competition (abstracts are due May 17). Also note that in addition to the customary reception on the evening of the first day, there will be a party in the new "user space area" in the ARC library after the conclusion of the meeting on Friday, May 31.

Free-Electron Laser

The FEL team is continuing to maneuver the majority of the FEL personnel who are still matrixed to other groups until ONR funding is received. Work is underway on F100 cryomodule refurbishment. Diagnostics upgrades are proceeding at a pace determined by the individual funding for those specific items. Planning activities continue for the advanced gun and new buncher, as well as the new beamline, which will combine these with the new cryounit.

Engineering

The Machine Shop is presently manufacturing or continuing to manufacture:

  • Twelve CLAS 12 high-threshold Cerenkov counter mirror assembly jig sections. The final (12th) section is in the process of being machined;
  • Fifty instrumentation photomultiplier tubes, shield trays and bezel PMT retainers for Hall B;
  • Three remaining ZA vacuum chambers;
  • An assortment of upstream and downstream support mounting brackets for the spreader/recombiner stands; and
  • For the photocathode gun assembly, an aluminum Pierce electrode at 25 Degrees and two electrodes made from oxygen-free copper.

The shop has processed 104 job requests since April 1.

    JLab Calendar of Events

    May 20: Safety Shoe vendor onsite
    May 22: JAG Run-A-Round
    May 27: Memorial Day holiday, JLab closed
    May 28: HUGS, SULI and REU programs begin
    May 29-31: Jefferson Lab Users Group Annual Meeting
    June 4-6: Heavy Photon Search Collaboration Meeting
    June 17-21: Program Advisory Committee Meeting (PAC40)
    June 24: Protecting Your IP Rights seminar

    Environment, Safety, Health and Quality

    Staying Hydrated
    The Tidewater area is known for hot and humid summers. Those conditions, coupled with manual labor, can lead to a range of adverse health effects for different people if proper precautions are not taken. Any workers who labor in areas without air conditioning should be aware of the possible effects of heat and take precautions. For instance, staying hydrated is a key tool for beating the heat. Here are some tips for making sure workers consume enough water to stay hydrated all day:

    • Most people should drink slightly more than is dictated by thirst;
    • Hydration should be sufficient to make the urine almost as light-colored as water at least once per day; and
    • Sports beverages should be used instead of plain water if the person will be sweating for more than one hour.

    If an individual has any questions about whether his or her personal health might be adversely affected by high temperature, he or she should consult a physician and/or Occupational Medicine, x7539.

    Announcements

    Foreign Students and Exchange Visitors Face Closer Scrutiny, Delays at U.S. Ports of Entry
    The Department of Homeland Security has ordered its border agents to verify that every international F-1 and M-1 student and J-1 exchange visitor who arrives to the United States holds a valid visa. Agents must now verify the status of each F-1, M-1 and J-1 nonimmigrant in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) before admission. Not all border officers are equipped with access to SEVIS, however, so after preliminary processing, most students and exchange visitors are referred to secondary inspection, where their SEVIS record is reviewed and where they may be questioned further about their U.S. activities. F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors should be prepared for the new entry procedures and for the possibility of long waits at U.S. ports of entry. They should be patient and answer all questions clearly and fully. For more information, see the memo.

    Less Than One Week Left to Register for the JAG Run-A-Round
    Registration is open for the 28th Annual Run-A-Round, sponsored by JAG. Jefferson Lab staff, users, students, full-time contractors and immediate family members are invited to participate in the event, which will be held Wednesday, May 22, 3-6 p.m. Staff and users who participate in the run or volunteer can receive a free 2013 Jefferson Lab T-shirt. Volunteers make this event possible, so sign up to volunteer in one of the few remaining spots today. Race participants must register online by May 21 to be eligible for awards. Links for more detailed information, race registration and volunteer signup are available on the JAG webpage.

    Student Mentor Informational Meeting Set for May 22
    Memorial Day marks the beginning of the “summer student season.” Just as we prepare for other seasons (hurricane, winter, etc.), all staff that work with high school or undergraduate students are invited to a one-hour session to review and discuss a few requirements and guidelines for the lab's mentors and sponsors that will ensure the students’ safety and success over the next few months. Lab Director Hugh Montgomery will provide his perspectives on students, mentoring and student safety. In addition, there will be brief presentations by Bob May, Rhonda Barbosa and Steve Gagnon on student safety and mentoring best practices. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 22, at 10 a.m. in CEBAF Center room F113. For more information, contact Telesha Brown, x7567.

    TIAA-CREF Onsite Individual Counseling Sessions
    TIAA-CREF will be offering Individual Counseling Sessions, where you can discuss your personal financial situation with a TIAA-CREF consultant on a confidential basis. They will be available to discuss how to help you achieve your financial goals by investing in financial solutions such as mutual funds, brokerage, life insurance and annuities. The sessions will be offered Thursday and Friday, June 6-7, in Support Service Center room 21. To schedule an appointment, call TIAA-CREF at (800) 732-8353, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

    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.

    Becky Mosbrucker and Jay Benesch correctly guessed the location for May 8. Check out the Tracking Thomas webpage for a better view of his last location and this week's new mystery photo.

    JLab Weekly Briefs is an ongoing publication providing information on the status of safety, accelerator operations, experiments, free-electron laser, reviews, upcoming activities and special events. Deadline for submission is every Tuesday by 10 a.m. Submit new items to: Public Affairs or contact Kandice Carter at x7263.