Date: Sat Jan 03 2004 - 18:15:12 EST
FYI ====== Scheduling Physicist -YIP (ie. SPY) news channel ======== Hello, (1) Status : We declared the beginning of physics mode running on Dec. 31, 2003 which was about a week earlier than previously scheduled. Some time after 14:30 that day, we had our first "physics" store with successful rebucketing with 56x56 bunches. Since then, though there have been minor problems here and there, the machine has performed quite well. Though I shouldn't try to be too early to be too "gung ho", people start to think that meeting our luminosity target is not too difficult ! :-) I understand that STAR is eagerly using the collision data to evaluate whether their TPC can operate well in spite of the minor defect (a shorted circuit somewhere). I was called this afternoon and told that PHOBOS hasn't turned on their silicon detectors because they want to make sure that the re-trigger mechanism for handling the RHIC abort kicker pre-fire (~ "misfire" to me) is working properly (otherwise, their silicon detectors could be damaged). I did something to make the relevant parties talk to each other. I hope PHOBOS will be re-convinced soon (probably after the next ~2 successful beam dumps). (2) The usual Time meeting will be held next Tuesday Jan. 6, 2004 at 13:30 in the Snyder Seminar Room (911A). On Monday (Jan. 5), we will decide upon whether the access on Jan. 7, 2004 should be materialized. (3) Last Tuesday morning in my special & self-centered perspective ... If you don't know, Tuesday morning, we were kind of a few steps away from opening a vacuum valve/section which might result in ~a week's downtime. Because people suspected that the vacuum valve was closed and thus blocked the beam from circulating into the yellow ring. At the end, after 12 hours (?!), the smart machine specialist Greg found out that it was due to 4 magnets not having the correct currents. Their statuses were mistakenly shown to be "ON" in a panel --- which was in turn due to a Programmable Logic Controller having a communication problem with some of its attached equipment after the power dip on Sunday evening ! Greg went to look at a couple different pages which showed the magnet currents read back ... and thus discovered the problem. Believe it or not, in that exact morning, I actually looked at one of those panels myself but I didn't actually understand what those "zeroes" etc. meant. I should have asked my (n+1)th stupid question --- see ! again, there is really NO stupid question. I remember one evening a week or 2 ago, when I was in the Main Control Room, a similar situation occurred (though not in the same location), ie., one beam going through but not the other. After 30-45 minutes, people actually realized that the current read back for a trimming magnet was much lower than what it supposed to be. Kin ====== ======= ====== ======= ====== ======= ====== ======= This SPY news channel solicits YOUR input of any sorts. You'll be paid back with loads of gratefulness Let me know if you want to get off this private email mailing list. _______________________________________________ Brahms-l mailing list Brahms-l@lists.bnl.gov http://lists.bnl.gov/mailman/listinfo/brahms-l
