Beam Schedule Change (Schedule 119b) - ISAC Operation update

[Science Division]

Dear TRIUMF Users, Experimenters, Operators and Staff,

This is to inform you that we have two changes to Schedule 119b for the 
ISAC operation;
1) concerning cyclotron RF technical issues and change of maintenance 
day and schedule impact for July 11 & 12, 2011; and
2) new schedule for running period July – August 2011, and plans for 
September UCx run

_*For 1) *_
Due to some RF issues for the cyclotron and associated repair, a 
decision was made to push forward tomorrows (July 12) maintenance day to 
today (July 11). Moreover, beta-NMR will continue to run tonight (July 
12 pm-shift) and start up for HERACLES S1067 will begin July 12 
am-shift. The changes are reflected in the on-line schedule.

_*For 2)*_
A decision concerning the technical issues with TM1 and the 
corresponding changes has been made and we have been informed by the 
Accelerator Division about status and plans (see detailed Accelerator 
Division Statement below). The following changes and consequences arise 
for the schedule:
We have cancelled the Nb-target run and will operate instead a low power 
Ta target. We will be running for an extended period of 5 weeks to allow 
for time in between to repair TM1, load it with a LPTa target, install 
it on-line, and test it with protons. After a successful test, we would 
pull it out, and prepare it with a UCx target, to come back for 
operation September 1, 2011. Before and after the TM1 on-line tests we 
would do experiments with TM4. Some changes for experiments have 
occurred, please check the on-line schedule for the relevant changes.

The operation of the UCx target remains a laboratory priority, however, 
the planned operation of the UCx target depends on successful tests of 
TM1. Once this is verified we will be able to schedule experiments with 
a UCx target starting September 1, 2011. In this case, we will be 
running with this target until September 26, 2011 (hence postpone the 
cyclotron and ISAC shutdown by ~ one week).

If TM1 can NOT be tested successfully, we would use TM4 for the UCx 
target. In this case we would extend the LPTa run (presently starting 
July 27) to operate until ~ September 9, 2011. We would then go into 
shutdown (hence earlier then planned). After the shutdown, we would come 
back for operation October 5, 2011 with TM4 UCx operation. For now, no 
experiments with UCx are reflected in the on-line schedule. Once the 
situation is clear, the on-line schedule will be changed.

I apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience while we 
are repairing the system to provide you with the best experimental 
conditions. I promise to maintain full transparency of the process and 
thank you for your understanding.

Best regards,
Jens Dilling

_*Accelerator Division’s statement: *_
During pre-installation tests with TM1 in the new ISAC conditioning 
station problems were encountered in reaching the goal of 60kV. Tests 
indicated that there were small leaks in some of the water circuits. 
Further tests localized the leaks to several transition joints. A plan 
has been adopted to re-engineer the joints and drawings have been issued 
to the shop as of July 8. The shop has been instructed to deal with the 
fabrication of the required parts at high priority. Nonetheless the 
fabrication and testing of the re-engineered parts will take time. The 
highest priority is to determine the integrity of TM1 under beam 
conditions prior to the next UCx run. To this end we are proposing to 
refurbish TM1 with the re-engineered joints, outfit TM1 with an LPTa 
target and install on-line to test the module under real operating 
conditions. The target and ion source group have established an 
aggressive schedule with installation of the module planned for Aug. 3 
and test with beam from Aug. 11-13. We feel this plan gives us the best 
chance to confirm the integrity of TM1 before the next UCx run scheduled 
in Sept.

Thanks for your support,
Bob Laxdal

https://mis.triumf.ca/schedule/view

-- 
Miss Nicole (Niki) Martin
Administrative Assistant
Science Division

TRIUMF
Accelerating Science for Canada | Un accélérateur de la démarche scientifique canadienne
4004 Wesbrook Mall
Vancouver, BC  V6T 2A3
604-222-7438

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