Accelerator Update for November 21, 2008 - November 24, 2008

Friday Nov 21

The day shift began with Operations monitoring the Tevatron (TeV) store 6583 (179.21E30) and the Recycler stash (191.9E10), with the Antiproton Source stacking (26.4E10), with the Linac, Booster, and Main Injector (MI) operating normally, with the Collider Detector at Fermilab (CDF) and D-Zero (D0) experiments using the colliding beams, and with the MiniBooNE experiment taking beam. NuMI was down due to a horn problem.

At 9:29 AM, a Linac RF station (LRF3) tripped off for the first of two times in one hour. It reset.

Booster experts began a short study at 10:34 AM.

At 10:36 AM, D0 experimenters called about a drop in luminosity. Operations reported that they didn’t see a drop.

At 11:26 AM, Operations reported a problem with beam positions at D0.

At 11:47 AM, LRF3 tripped off for the first of two times in seven minutes. It reset.

Operators reported at 11:48 AM that they had searched and secured the MTA - MuCool enclosure.

Operations turned off the Booster East Anode Power Supply at 1:46 PM so that RF experts could bring BRF3 back online. This took about 15 minutes.

At 3:12 PM, Booster experts reported that a seal for the Booster 95- LCW return pump was leaking. The pump will be replaced with a backup pump after the antiprotons have been injected into the TeV this evening.

Operations terminated store 6583 at 3:42 PM.

Operations turned on the power supplies for MTA at 3:54 PM.

Operations put the TeV into shot setup at 3:55 PM.

Operations reported at 4:08 PM that the Recycler had stashed antiprotons seven times during the day shift.

Operations began preparing MI for an access at 5:14 PM.

Operations reported that technicians began the Booster LCW return pump work at 5:18 PM.

Operations established store 6584 at 5:29 PM with an initial luminosity of 296.05E30.

Operations reported that the Booster LCW return pump work was completed around 7 PM.

MI came out of access at 7:57 PM.

A MTA expert began a 20-minute study at 8:22 PM.

MTA experts began commissioning the MTA beam at 8:58 PM. They finished an hour later.

Operations had established beam to Pbar and MiniBooNE by 10:34 PM.

Operations reported at 11:48 PM that the Recycler had stashed once during the evening shift.

Saturday Nov 22

The midnight shift began with Operations monitoring store 6584 (121.48E30) and the stash (29.2E10), with Pbar stacking (49.3E10), and with MiniBooNE taking beam.

At 4:15 AM, BRF16 tripped off and then caused problems with other stations when it was reset. Operators bypassed the station and brought on BRF14 in its place.

At 6:28 AM, the MI RF system tripped off on a LCW temperature watchdog trip. Operations contacted an expert.

At 7:41 AM, Operations reported that the MI RF system LCW trip was due to a 3-way mixing valve that was unresponsive to remote loop commands. Per an expert's instructions, operators set the valve manually. Operations called in experts to investigate the problem.

Operations reported at 7:58 AM that the Recycler had stashed seven times during the midnight shift.

At 9:40 AM, MI experts reported that the MI-60 LCW loop had gotten stuck in the closed position. Around 8 AM it resumed normal remote control loop operations. They reported that there was not much that could be done without causing further RF problems. They will monitor the situation.

Operations terminated store 6584 at 10:07 AM.

Operations prepared CDF for an access at 10:20 AM.

CDF came out of access at 1:52 PM.

Operations put the TeV through a dry squeeze at 2:17 PM.

Operations put the TeV through a wet squeeze at 2:57 PM.

Operations put the TeV into shot setup at 3:28 PM.

Operations established store 6587 at 4:55 PM with an initial luminosity of 320.47E30.

Operations reported at 7:59 PM that the Recycler had stashed 11 times during the last 12 hours.

At 11:35 PM, a TeV RF station (TRF1) tripped off and caused a small loss of luminosity. Operations contacted an expert.

Sunday Nov 23

The midnight shift began Operations monitoring store 6587 and the stash, with Pbar stacking, and with MiniBooNE taking beam.

At 2:52 AM, Operations reported that the P1 transfer line beam permit had tripped off for the first of four times in about four hours. It reset.

At 4:48 AM, Operations reported a vacuum burst in the MI-8 transfer line. Everything reset.

Operations reported at 7:59 AM that the Recycler had stashed 14 times during the last 12 hours.

Operations reported at 9:34 AM that the 400MeV area beam permit had tripped off for the first of five times in about nine hours due to bad beam positions. It reset.

Operations terminated store 6587 at 9:51 AM.

Operations turned TRF1 on at 10:02 AM.

Operations put the TeV into shot setup at 10:03 AM.

Operations established store 6588 around 11:37 AM with an initial luminosity of 321.01E30.

Operations reported at 8 PM that the Recycler had stashed 11 times during the last 12 hours.

Monday Nov 24

The midnight shift began with Operations monitoring store 6588 and the stash, with Pbar stacking, and with MiniBooNE taking beam.

Operations terminated store 6588 at 2:53 AM.

Operations put the TeV into shot setup at 3:05 AM.

Operations established store 6589 at 4:37 AM with an initial luminosity of 324.89E30.

At 6:17 AM, the 400 MeV area had tripped off for the first of three times in 35 minutes. It reset.

Operations reported at 7:59 AM that the Recycler had stashed 12 times during the last 12 hours.

The Plans for Monday

The plans for today are to stack, stash, and store. The Run Coordinator will allow Linac, Booster, and MI experts to conduct studies.

Accelerator Update Archive

More Information
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