Collider-Accelerator
Department
THE PARTICLE POST
June 2000
|
Collider-Accelerator
THE PARTICLE POST June 2000 |
As we go to press, RHIC is on
the verge of becoming a collider. The commissioning team has been able to
accelerate beam simultaneously in both the blue and yellow ring to 66 GeV. I would expect that as you read
this, collisions are either imminent or will have occurred. 66 GeV will be the
operating energy until we train the DX magnets and move up to 100 GeV. As you
can surmise, all four experiments are anxiously awaiting the first collisions.
On other fronts, we are making
excellent progress on the BAF and SNS construction projects. I just returned
from a NASA-ASI (Italian Space Agency) workshop on space related radiation
biology, where I presented a paper on the AGS and BAF programs. There is a
growing community of US, European and Japanese biologists and physicists who are
gearing up to use our facilities. The November run will include new groups from
Italy who will be using the AGS.
On the high energy physics
front, the initiative s of MECO and KOPIO are rapidly moving along the path for
funding approval from the National Science Foundation.
The 70 MeV Cyclotron
Project has gained a very strong endorsement from the Nuclear Energy Research
Advisory Committee (NERAC) for an
FY01 construction start.
The Rapid Cycling Medical
Synchrotron design effort continues unabated. A mid-July date has been set to
meet with the University of Pennsylvania and their associates to plan the next
steps aimed at a project -start.
The MATAC tandem effort,
led by Peter Thieberger, is making progress despite the lack of a funding
source. The importance of an accelerator based source of thermal and epithermal
neutrons for various medical purposes is not debated. The problem is that no one
has stepped up to provide the funding as of yet.
Derek Lowenstein
This past month our focus has been to closely track funding and cost to keep the RHIC inaugural run going as long as desired. This is not a small enterprise and there is not much history with the machine so things are financially tight and being monitored closely.
I do want to thank the technical staff for their help and cooperation in reconfirming commitments and reducing cost where they can.
John Hauser
SNS activities during the month of April included: 1) we conducted or participated in over 12 Project level reviews or conferences, 2) advanced procurement plans covering approximately 18 millions dollars were submitted to the Project Office for current and out year procurements exceeding $100,000, 3) a $90,000 purchase order was placed with a vendor for "foil" development, 4) a $600,000 Request for Proposal (RFP) for power supply interface modules was released for quotation Efforts this month were concentrated on the 1.3 GeV compatible Ring and Transport modifications for the upcoming DOE semi-annual review that is scheduled for the end of October.
Other activities in which BNL participated included various Project level reviews. These were: Conventional Construction of Ring and Service Buildings (Title 1), Seismic Requirements, RTBT/Target Interface, Beam Instrumentation Workshop, Ring Systems Cost and Schedule Performance, SNS Users Meeting, Ring System Power Supplies, and Work Schedule Review.
Fires around Los Alamos National Laboratory forced the Lab to close which resulted in the cancellation of a few scheduled reviews. They were the Ring and Transport Magnets Review, Warm Linac Vacuum Review, and Cabling and Penetration Workshop. We anticipate that these Project reviews will be rescheduled in the near future.
During May the SNS engineering staff completed internal reviews of the 21Q40/26CD30/BPM Assembly, the HEBT/RTBT Dipole Correctors, and the Extraction Lambertson Magnet/Ring Quadrupole Interface.
The C-AD Design room was busy this month with the transmittal and release (for manufacture) of more than fifty RF component design drawings. RF parts have been arriving at BNL for evaluation, testing and assembly.
Vendor quotations have been received for the power supply interface modules. These modules are intended to provide control commonality between the various Ring and Transport power supplies; they are also potential candidates for some Linac power supplies. Vendor factories have been visited and the bids are being evaluated. We expect to award a contract in early June.
Finally, the 21Q40 prototype quadrupole has been electro-mechanically hooked up in the magnet test dock. It is now ready for testing to evaluate its magnetic field quality.
W. McGahern
The
design of the NASA/A1 beam line access security system was completed in May.
The group started to assemble the system components for a June/July
installation. The installation of the PASS RF critical device reachback
system, at building 1004A, was started. Most
of the installation will be done during the fall shutdown.
The
group continued to provide support for the RHIC beam operations.
N. Williams
The Collider Mechanical Support Group is employed in a myriad of tasks including BAF and SNS work and the magnet press in Bldg. 924. Assembly of the crystal collimator components is also underway. Other work includes jobs for the Beam Components Group, magnet Measurements Group, the Spin Rotator Warm-to-Cold Transition and testing for ATLAS.
G. McIntyre
Support of RHIC commissioning continues to be the main focus of the group. New communications software was deployed in Front End Computers ( FECs ) in early May to address a reliability issue ( the "dropped async problem" for those who are familiar with the jargon ). The release was successful and FECs have been very reliable in recent weeks. The post mortem system was upgraded to include Wave Form Generator data and to gather additional information to assist in quench diagnostics. Continuous routine monitoring of the Event Link and Beam Sync Links is in place ( use the EventLinkDisplay program to view the logs ). Alarm System upgrades have been directed at making alarms more manageable for operations. Alarm management training sessions were held for operations. (See Managing RHIC Alarms.)
Controls for the injectors have been running reliably. Tandem MP6 transfer line controls are in place and undergoing commissioning. Controls for the OPPIS polarized proton source at Linac are also ready for commissioning. During the upcoming shutdown, we will be installing VME replacements for AGS and Booster Apollo stations. Remember Apollos? There are a few other Apollo workstations hanging on in our system - read about other Retirement Plans. Apollo Retirement Plans.
To keep pace with demands on the system, we have placed orders for some new equipment. A new operations server machine will share some of the load with acnsun68, the workhorse RHIC server machine. A new file system of 350GB will greatly increase our existing operations disk space ( which currently stands at a little more than 100 GB ). Delivery and installation schedule for this equipment is not set yet.
Reports of system slowness at particular times of day have been investigated. The main culprit for middle of the night slowness is an operations file system check utility. We confirmed this ( with a vengeance! ) in scheduled tests on Monday, June 5. We will explore solutions with the file system vendor. We’re working with the network group to investigate periods of slowness reaching the development network from operations. A byproduct of our investigations will be some improved tools for monitoring and diagnostics of overall system performance.
J. Morris
Experimental Support and Facilities Division
Strictly speaking, the riggers are not part of the C-A Department. They are figuratively speaking, rented from Plant Engineering. In actual fact many of the riggers have been with us for a large number of years. Moreover, they are the major modifiers of the landscape of our intersection regions and experimental halls. Working under the direction of ES & F liaison engineers they move heavy shielding and equipment about to set up new experiments. At the moment they are setting up facilities for muon collider studies and a test facility for neutron spallation tests. Both of these require large amount of shielding to contain the radiation generated by the high intensity beams coming out of the AGS.
Moving and placing shield blocks or pieces of a magnet yoke weighing 10's of tons is skilled work requiring judgment and a surprising delicate touch. I have found it fascinating to observe the rigging of experimental equipment, especially when it is mine! Applied physics, extensive experience, and carefully applied strength are needed to get the job done. The following is a bit of poetry I wrote about one such occasion.
BIG STEEL
----------
I, a juggler and sometimes a fumbler of things infinitely small.
Stood and watched amazed,
as George and crew delicately lifted and twirled
an eight thousand pound, thirty foot, nine inch long
Wide Flanged Beam.
It was a 'press' fit.
A circus of riggers - high in the air,
pressed gently with levers and jacks,
helped with a bit of grease.
The eight thousand pound, thirty foot, nine inch long
Wide Flanged Beam,
slipped into place;
a perfect fit!
Alan Carroll
Get To Know Your Coworker!!!!
This is a new section that I hope you will enjoy. Too many times we work side-by-side with someone, meet someone in the halls, run into them at the store and we know they belong at BNL - BUT WHO ARE THEY!!!!!
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RICHARD J.
HINTZE, is with the
C-AD Security and Equipment Installation Group. He works on the RHIC PASS
system-a sophisticated security system involving video and personal card
access controls. He also works on the RHIC power supplies
fabrication and assembly. He has been at BNL for a total of 7 1/2
years. Five years as a job shopper and 2 1/2 years on a term
position. He has also worked with the AGS Cryogenics Group, g-2 and
Beam Components. Some other projects he worked on at BNL include
refurbish and reinstall the AGS separators, L.F. correcting magnets for
the AGS ring, the F3 power supply system for RHIC and the main power
supplies for RHIC.
Richard enjoys restoring VW Bettle cars, gardening, drawing architectural house plans and alterations for others. Richard is proud to say that he and his wife Jo Anne, who is an office manager for a local doctor, have been married for 35 years. They have two sons; Richard who is 30 and is a Sr. Assoc. for Price-Waterhouse Cooper in Washington, D.C. and Andrew, age 25, who works as an accounting officer for EMS Development Corp. in Yaphank. I asked Richard what else he would like to share with us and his response was: "I have been blessed with a wonderful family and thanks to Bob Meier, a great job. Coming from a background of designing and building intricate electronic equipment plus having my own company, Bob thought I could contribute to the AGS programs. I started working at BNL as a principal technician (job shopper). Soon I realized what made BNL tick. It is BNL's people! Diverse in backgrounds but similar in low-key approach to getting things done. Bosses as well as follow employees helping me feel "at home". People willing to work together. I was at a party some months back and the topic came up as to where I work and the statement was made "Oh, they don't make anything" and I took offense. I went on to state that our product at BNL is 'hope'. We give a theory or dream a chance to be proven, research a chance to find a cure, ourselves a chance to make a difference. Thanks BNL." |
Get To Know Your Coworker will be appearing on a regular basis in our newsletter. Employee is selected on a strictly random basis. So don't be surprised if someday, when you least expect it, you'll get a questionaire in the mail, saying - SURPRISE! You're Employee of the Month!
We WELCOME ABOARD.....
| Leonard Masi | Leonard will be working with Bill Kollmer in the Cryogenic Systems Group and comes to us from the Reactor Division |
| Michele Wilinski | Michele is a co-op engineer and will be working with Tom Russo in the Beam Components and Instrumentation Group. Her office is in room 108, 911A. |
| Anatoli Zelenski | Anatoli is a physicist who will be working at the Linac. His building address is 930 and phone extension is 8387. |
We also welcome the following summer employees:
| Beth Cardona | Beth is a Co-Op Engineer and will be working in the Beam Components and Instrumentation Group. Beth will be here until the end of August. |
| Michael Combs | Michael is also a Co-Op Engineer and is working with the RF Group and Keven Smith. Michael will be here until the end of August. |
| Bryan Field | Bryan is a student assistant working with Steve Peggs n the Accelerator Division. Bryan will be here thru August 4. |
| Adam Huhn | Peter Cameron, of SNS, is fortunate to have Adam working with him as a student assistant. Adam will be here until the end of August. |
| Joseph Sinacore | A student collaborator, Joseph is working with Alan Carroll and will be here at C-AD until mid August. |
a and say FAREWELL to....
| William Kuhnle | William has terminated his employed at BNL. |
| Steven Mulhall | Steven, a Mechanical Engineer, has transferred to the Physics Dept |
We wish you all good health and happiness in your new adventures.
We wish all our June
Birthday folks a happy and a healthy year ahead. Birthday people ONLY
can click on cake 
A
very special congratulations to Frank Donato upon his graduating summa cum laude
from New York Polytechnic University.
Frank this is for YOU -
click here. Frank is a Programmer in John Gould's Communications
and Electronics Support Group.
Service Awards - Mike
Iarocci of the Cryogenic Systems Group was
presented with a Wittnauer watch for his
25 years of service at BNL.
This is a new cooking section we hope you will enjoy. All recipes are welcome. Please send your favorites to Gloria Diehr, Bldg. 817, diehr@bnl.gov. Of course we would all be happy to be recipe testers for you!
Mike Nekulak’s
POLISH AMERICAN
BORSCH INGREDIENTS:
2
LARGE CANS JULIENNED
BEETS – WITH JUICE. STRAIN
BEET JUICE FROM CANS INTO BLENDER. ADD SOUR CREAM AND WATER. BLEND
UNTIL SMOOTH. PUT
IN LARGE BOWL WITH RESERVED BEETS. SERVE
COLD. ALTERNATE
EATING SPOONFULS OF BORSCH WITH ANY LEFTOVER SOUR CREAM. SERVES:
1 (NEKULAK)
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ALEXEI’S RUSSIAN BORSCH COOKING
TIME: ~ 1½ HOURS INGREDIENTS:
MEAT: 1 LB.
BEEF – CUT INTO SMALL PIECES
WATER: ~ 3 LITERS
VEGETABLES: – Peel & cube 2-3
BEETS
Slice ½
CABBAGE (or less)
Chop 2
TOMATOES SALT
& PEPPER TO TASTE SIMMER
BEEF IN WATER ~ 20 MINUTES. SKIM
ANY FOAM OFF TOP BEFORE ADDING VEGETABLES. ADD
VEGETABLES IN ORDER LISTED ABOVE. COVER
WITH WATER. COOK ABOUT 1 HOUR THE
LAST 15 MINUTES, ADD:
Chopped TOMATOES ADD
A DOLLOP OF SOUR CREAM TO EACH BOWL OF BORSCH BEFORE SERVING. Serves
about 6-10 |
|
FRITZ’ IRISH BORSCH Pour
Jameson’s Irish Whiskey in tall glass(es). Drink. Serves:
1-2 |
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GLORIA’s NEW YORK/RUSSIAN BORSCH Preparation
Time: ~ 2 Hours (To get ready). Take
a cab to the Russian Tea Room (to the ‘left’ of Carnegie Hall
on West 57th Street). Order
borsch. Serves:
~ 500 |
REMINDER: Due to the unfortunate closing of the Reactor there is still equipment, supplies etc available to BNL departments for free. It's well worth your division's benefit to contact Ray Lo Presti, X 5755, to go over and pick-up or tag items you may be able to use.
Click Here ISMR for the Integrated Safety Management Verification Report.
Carl
LaMonica, associated with Tom Nehring in the Power Distribution Group, and
his wife Patricia
celebrated 33 years of wedded bliss on June 3.
CONGRATULATIONS to you both!
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FOR SALE!! 1995 Ford Probe-SE, 69Kmiles, elec. windows, mirrors & antenna. Auto. trans., am/fm cassette radio, New Pirelli tires, huge trunk space, electric blue w/ gray cloth interior. Excellent and Clean Condition! Garaged! $6,000. Contact: Mary Campbell, X4774, maryc@bnl.gov |
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The stork has been very busy this month. On May 25th at 9:01 PM LILIE CHRISTINA TANG was delivered weighing in at 6 lbs 9.2 oz and 19.5" long. Proud parents are: Heather and Johnny Tang. Johnny is with the SNS Group at Bldg. 817. |  |
| Then
on May 27th the stork came flying by again and delivered their 1st
Granddaughter to Andy and Mary McNerney. ZOE
MARIE McNERNEY weighed
in at 6 lbs. 4 oz.
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- Any news that you have pertaining to our department or personnel is appreciated. For example: what's going on in your work area, length of BNLemployment anniversary, birthdays, weddings, new births, retirements, "gossip". It's up to you - it's YOUR Particle Post; just send your input to me lopresti@bnl.gov.
(Note: calendars will be updated as information is submitted)
JUNE
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
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1 Particle Physics Seminar "The W Mass Measurement at LEP and its EW Implications" H. Przysiezniak, CERN Bldg. 510-Small Seminar Rm - 11 am |
2 |
| 5 |
6 Time Meeting 1:30 |
7 RHIC Lunchtime Talk "What can we learn about the phase transition by measuring charged multiplicity at RHIC" D. Rischke, BNL, NOON, Berkner Rm.B HEP & Riken Theory "Non-Leptonic Weak Decays from Euclidean Correleation Functions" L. Lellouch, France, 1:30, Bldg. 510 Small Seminary Rm. |
8 HEP Planning Discussion E949-S. Kettel, BNL 11AM,Bldg. 510 Small Seminar Rm. |
9
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| 12 |
13 Time Meeting 1:30 |
14 BNL Lecture "RHIC Commissioning: The Gold Rush Toward collision" F. Pilat, BNL-4PM Berkner |
15 Particle Physics Seminar "The observation of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays using the high-resolution fly's eye detector"-W.Springer -U. Utah, 11AM,blg. 510 Small Seminar Rm |
16 TIME CARDS DUE |
| 19 | 20 Time Meeting 1:30 |
21 | 22 | 23 |
| 26 | 27 Time Meeting 1:30 |
28 | 29 |
JULY
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| 3 HOLIDAY
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4 HOLIDAY
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5
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6 |
7 |
| 10 |
11 Time Meeting 1:30 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
| 17 |
18 Time Meeting 1:30 ---------- TIME CARDS DUE |
19 |
20 |
21 |
| 24 | 25 Time Meeting 1:30 |
26 | 27 | 28 |
31 |
