Present: B. Blank, K. Blaum, Y. Blumenfeld, P. Butler, R. Catherall, J. Cederkall, K. Flanagan (replacing J. Billowes), L. Fraile, M.J. Garcia-Borge, P. Greenlees, Y. Kadi, M. Kowalska,

N. Marginean, K. Riisager, D. Santonocito, P. Van Duppen, S. Siem,

Excused: J. Billowes, M. Henry

Absent: U. Datta Pramanik, S. Harissopulos, R. Losito

Invited: G. Simpson (P.T.)

The meeting starts at 13:30 h

1. Introductory remarks by the chairperson

The chairperson opens the meeting and welcomes the committee.  

2. Approval of the minutes of the 64th meeting.

The minutes of the 64th ISCC meeting are accepted without any alterations.

3. Scheduling & ENSAR news (M. Kowalska & M.J.G. Borge).

  M. Kowalska begins by presenting the injector schedule up until 17^th December 2012. During 2012 there will be 37 weeks of physics compared to 29 in 2011.

The committee is informed that in mid-October a major problem occurred with the GPS making it necessary to reschedule certain experiments. The extraction electrode at the GPS frontend got stuck in the middle of the target valve meaning that only light targets were allowed. Making use of the two additional weeks of running time, all GPS runs were successfully rescheduled although some shifts had to be cut. It was also possible to schedule the new 44Ti (IS543) experiment which was in the coordinator’s reserve list and reschedule the 11Be run which had failed during the summer. Hence no IS experiments were cancelled.

The committee thanks M. Kowalska and the technical team for adjusting quickly to this difficult situation.

M. Kowalska explains that at the beginning of 2012 there were 1009 open shifts for IS experiments and 53 shifts for LOIs. The beam requests received asked for 833 shifts for 71 IS experiments and 40 shifts for 14 LOIs. There were 20 IS experiments that did not submit a beam request. A total of 377.5 REX shifts (IS + LOIs) were requested. A comparison of shift statistics for 2011 and 2012 is presented.

The highlights from the physics runs that have taken place since the last ISCC meeting are then summarized. There have been many successful experiments with new set-ups and new groups as well as very successful LOI runs based on new experimental techniques.

The committee is told that the first protons to ISOLDE after the long shutdown will be at the end of June 2012. Access to ISOLDE during the shutdown will require permanent dosimeters, helmets and safety shoes. While permanent dosimeters will also be required after the shutdown, it is still under discussion whether or not safety equipment will also be mandatory.

M.J.G. Borge begins by describing the ENSAR project and then summarises the current financial status of the ISOLDE TNA (Trans-National Access). The committee is also told about the meetings and deadlines required by the project.

The proposed ENSAR 2 project is very briefly described; it could involve collaboration with laboratories outside Europe such as TRIUMF. Ideally the project would start immediately after the present ENSAR project ends, i.e. 1^st September 2014. The committee is told that an expression of interest was submitted by the present ENSAR management by 22^nd October 2012.

A discussion follows about how ISOLDE should approach this new application and it is decided the committee should closely follow its progress.

4. INTC matters (P. Butler).

P. Butler informs the committee that the INTC meeting of 31^st October 2012 would consider the 31 proposals that had been received for HIE-ISOLDE from 26 countries and 4 continents. A total of 800 shifts have been requested for a period of one to two years.

P. Butler requests that an analysis is made of the distribution of the users named on these proposals by country of institute and spokesperson.

The committee is told by P. Butler that his term as INTC Chairperson will finish at the end of 2012 and that his successor will be K. Blaum.

P. Butler is thanked by the committee for his very fruitful period as INTC chairperson.

5. News from the HIE-ISOLDE Project (Y. Kadi)

Y. Kadi begins by summarizing the status of the HIE-ISOLDE project and its R&D activities.

The civil engineering, HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) system and cooling system contracts have been adjudicated and signed. The SC solenoid contract for 390kCHF has been signed with a Danish company and delivery of the first two solenoids is expected in 12 months. The reply received from Air Liquide and Lind for the tender sent out for the cryogenic plant is under review; the possibility of recycling some parts of decommissioned cryogenic plants available at CERN is being considered in order to reduce the cost but this would mean that the CERN cryogenics groups would be relied on for refurbishment and installation. The tender for the clean room at SM18 has been sent out while those for the cavity substrate manufacturing and the CM1 and CM2 vacuum are in preparation. A market survey for the High Energy beam Transfer (HEBT) lines magnets has been launched.

The committee is told that HEBT line review meetings were held on 25^th April and 6^th July while a Cryomodule Technical Review took place 26^th-27^th April. The risk assessment that was undertaken during August/September published a list of high risk aspects of the project which is presented to the committee. The highest risks are considered to be:

·       Learning curve on 1^st cryomodule out of schedule

·       Learning curve on 1^st RF cavities out of schedule

·       Cryogenics procurement and industrialization strategy lead to delays / cost overruns

·       Inadequate availability of CERN and /or contractors’ manpower.

Y. Kadi tells the committee that the design study for the intensity upgrade is well underway and then summarises the latest SRF activities including recent cavity tests. Then Y. Kadi presents the status of the design of the prototype diagnostic box; the prototype has been assembled at AVS and is now at CERN for testing. There is some concern about the electronics for acquisition and positioning and so, although a new strategy has been agreed with BE/BI  to obtain extra resources, a request should be circulated to the ISOLDE collaboration and within the Spanish/Portuguese program.

The committee is shown the proposed stage 1 HEBT layout and then hears a summary of the follow-up of the recommendations given at the last HIE-ISOLDE IAP meeting; the next meeting is scheduled for 8^th-9^th April 2013.

Y. Kadi then presents the status of the project budget including the external funding and the additional costs that are pending approval by CERN. The missing external funds for completion of phase 1 of the project is 0.8 to 1.2 MCHF assuming a contribution from the ISOLDE Collaboration of 0.3MCHF/year until 2015.He explains the effects on the budget of the different beam line layout options.

The committee is told that the CATHI mid-term report has to be submitted by 31^st December 2012 and that a cost and schedule review of the HIE-ISOLDE project will take Place 22^nd-23^rd November 2012. The next HIE-ISOLDE Steering Committee meeting will be held during the ISOLDE workshop while a Cavity review will be organized in January/February 2013.

Y. Kadi informs the committee that, within the collaboration agreement with the CATE consortium, the KE2012 agreement has been signed by both CERN and Lund University. A new amendment has been made to the collaboration agreement allowing the selected firms to contract the raw material instead of it being supplied by CERN. Feedback has been received from Kirkholm in Denmark about the fabrication of 2 cavity adjustment/positioning systems.

Finally, the committee is told that a collaboration agreement with BARC, India, for an in-kind contribution to the project is under discussion as well as collaboration with IBS-RISP in Korea.

6. Financial Situation of the Collaboration (M.J.G. Borge)

M.J.G. Borge presents analysis of the ISOLDE Collaboration income and expenditure for the period from 2009 to 2012.

7. Discussion and Decisions on the final layout and contribution to the HIE-ISOLDE Project for 2012 - 2015

After a long and detailed discussion, the committee decides that the layout of HIE-

ISOLDE should contain two identical 90° beam lines leaving an option to construct a third in

the future that would be part of the U-bend beam line.

The committee also decides to give an extra 200KCHF a year to the HIE-ISOLDE project in

both 2012 and 2013.

8. News from the TSR workshop (K. Blaum)
K. Blaum informs the committee that the TSR@ISOLDE Workshop that was held at CERN 29-30^th October was a success. He thanks F. Wenander and his team for the thorough technical study that was presented.

With regard to the planning of the project, K. Blaum tells the committee that the TSR ring will be in operation in Heidelberg until the end of 2012, after which it will remain installed and under vacuum until it is moved to ISOLDE. In order to avoid a loss of vital knowledge, the TSR@ISOLDE project should be moved along as quickly as possible. The next step is for a technical design report to be prepared by F. Wenander, E. Siesling and E. Piselli for the cost of the movement and installation of the TSR ring at CERN. This should be ready by the third quarter of 2013.

9. News from the Fixed Decay Station Workshop (P. Van Duppen)

P. Van Duppen tells the committee that the Fixed Decay Station Workshop was successful and that it had been decided to request that the installation of this set-up on the MISTRAL beam line be approved by the ISCC even though the transmission of this beam line is poor. The fixed decay station could be ready for the CERN start up in 2014.

The committee is told that KVI in the Netherlands has decided to postpone its interest in installing a MOT set-up (LOI115) on this beam line so the collaboration committee agrees to allocate the MISTRAL beam line to the fixed decay station and asks for the transmission problem to be investigated.

10. Status of the NICOLE set-up (G. Simpson).

After M.J.G. Borge gives a brief summary of what has happened regarding NICOLE since the last ISCC meeting, G. Simpson presents the present status.

The committee is told that a leak has been found in the NICOLE fridge but they cannot be 100% sure of the position of the leak. A quote has been received from ICE-Oxford in the UK for repair of the leak and CSNSM in France has agreed to pay for the transport to and from the UK.

11. Discussion and decision on the NICOLE Beam line.

In its present position, the top access to NICOLE will be blocked by HIE-ISOLDE racks so a discussion takes place about whether it would be possible to move NICOLE to a new position in the hall or if it would be better to relocate the racks. Moving the racks could cause a problem with the HIE-ISOLDE cooling systems so it is agreed that Y. Kadi will contact experts to take a look at this issue as well as to see if it would be possible to make a hole in the platform to facilitate top access to NICOLE.

The committee decides that if the NICOLE collaboration manages to repair the fridge and submits a proposal to the INTC which is accepted then room will be found for the set-up. This is the procedure for all experiments.

12. Status of the Buildings 115 and 507 (M.J. G. Borge)

M.J.G. Borge informs the committee that the refurbishment of building 115 costing 400kCHF is now waiting for final financial approval from CERN. P. Bloch and P. Collier have given the green light for the rebuilding of 507 and it is hoped that partial approval will be given in the 2013 budget of the General Services Department. These buildings belong to the BE Department so support and approval from both PH and BE departments is required for the work to go ahead.

The users are asked to consider the room distribution in the barracks, in particular, whether they would prefer the windows looking into the hall or out towards the Jura.

13. Status of the HIE-ISOLDE Design Study (R. Catherall)

R. Catherall tells the committee that the CATHI Mid-Term Review held on 26^th September 2012 was a great success. All the CATHI fellows and supervisors gave excellent presentations leading to the project being highly commended by the EC representative at the meeting.

The status of the High Intensity Upgrade is then summarized. The compatibility with the Target Area Upgrade has now been established, opening the door for the Fluka and ventilation work packages. Work is also progressing well on the target and front end work packages.

Finally the status of the Beam Quality Upgrade is presented. The study is now in a good position to validate concepts for the RFQ cooler and the front end while the construction of the test bench to validate the off-line 2 Mass Separator Layout is an important milestone. Also, excellent progress has been made on the REXEBIS upgrade thanks to the collaboration with BNL.

14. A.O.B

·       M. Kowalska tells the committee that, before the end of 2012, equipment in building 170 should be returned to its home institute or, if this is not possible, moved to CERN long term storage. As a last resort small items can be stored in building 275.

·       With regard to the visibilty of ISOLDE, L. Fraile asks how the facility should be mentioned in published papers. The committee decides that, if possible, ISOLDE should be mentioned in a paper’s abstract. Also, if allowed by the publisher, the phrase ”We acknowledge the support of the ISOLDE Collaboration and technical teams” should be used in the acknowledgements and the ISOLDE User Support Office should be informed (via Jennifer.Weterings@cern.ch ) when the paper is published.

·       M. J. Garcia Borge informs the committee that several schools/courses will be organised at ISOLDE during the long shutdown:
18th to 21st March 2013 –School on Statistical Methods in Nuclear Physics
Summer 2013 – Rick Casten will give a series of CERN summer student talks
Autumn 2013 – Shell model for practitioners School
Beginning 2014 – Seperator course / Mechanical Workshop
 

·       The next ISCC meeting will be held on Tuesday January 29th  2013 at 11:00.

The meeting ends at 18:30.