ISOLDE Technical Coordination Meeting (LS3)

Tuesday 19 May 2026, 14:00 → 15:00 Europe/Zurich

508/1-001 (CERN)

14:00 → 14:05 General news - Review of minutes

• Temporary road constuction ongoing in the small parking lot area (TG-CONS). Road to be available by the end of the week.
• TG-CONS worksite until the summer

Speakers: Erwin Siesling (CERN), Hanne Heylen (CERN), Joachim Vollaire (CERN)

minutes_2026_05_12_Draft.docx

minutes_2026_05_12_Draft.pdf

14:05 → 14:15 Safety matters

• bidodiversity: bird nest at the entrance of building 508

Speakers: Hanne Heylen (CERN), James Devine (CERN), Joachim Vollaire (CERN)

•  Update on incident in electronics workshop 275:
  • No additional victim came forward
  • Workshop remains closed for public, but can be accessed if properly ventilated
  • Chemicals need to be identified and workspace cleaned appropriately. Likely it was a contact adhesive (small tube), tube seemed relatively new so not so clear where it came from

14:15 → 14:20 IBDRS, Ventilation primary areas upgrade, BTY line @ 2 GeV

Speakers: Ana-Paula Bernardes (CERN), Joachim Vollaire (CERN), Melania Averna (CERN)

14:20 → 14:25 RILIS Laboratory upgrade project - activities update

Speakers: Carlotta Porzio (CERN), Katerina Chrysalidis (CERN), Laura Lambert (CERN), Sebastian Rothe (CERN)

• SCE / HE
  • Started dismantling of platform yesterday
• AA
  • Monobloc to be removed either this afternoon or tomorrow
• CV
  • H20 pipe across rilis roof to be displaced, seeing with integration on how to re-route this
• Scaffolding
  • Scaffolding below barrack to be modified to be walk-able likely end of this week
• AOB / safety
  • Fire extinguisher by HRS door temporarily placed next to beam where it will be mounted
    
    • Once Dima is back he will mount it on the beam
  • Barriers in parking of Mont blanc side of ISOLDE
    • Please stop moving barriers so you can park your car! They are there for a reason,.

14:25 → 14:35 Machine related activities in the experimental hall

IS work #1.

Speakers: Erwin Siesling (CERN), Simon Mataguez (CERN)

Platform EPC:

• Gatway FE's operational - 1st control tests can be carried out
• GPS elements cable testing foreseen for today (Julien Allamandy): Access system out was of order due to disconnection from the main access system - Contacted Didier Chapuis, now OK. HRS foreseen as of tomorrow (with GPS not accessible due to FC490 removal by BI).
• Estimation Nicolas: mid June ready for commissioning of the full chain - Miguel back from holidays. He will contact Nicolas to prepare for the commissioning.
• False floor almost ready (few bars missing). Beams and metal floor 508 side entrance installed and ready
• Some neons on the ceiling to be installed - action Erwin
• Removal of the scaffolding below the platform still to be done followed by adaptation of the old false floor. Proposal Jean-Pierre Billon-Grand. To be defined when and who (Jordy team?)
  
  

ISOLDE vacuum system: 

• Main SIMATIC vacuum system PLC has been replaced and tested (Abel). Several small modifications/improvements in the software (buffer tank empty before pump start, N2 & Ar pressure readout, etc.)
• All secundary vacuum system controlling PLCs (full crates) will be exchanged in the cause of 2027
• HRS & Replacement of the HRS20 & HRS30 pumping groups valves in the HRS separator zone (Guillermo) - exact dates to be scheduled

REX/HIE ISOLDE: 

• Suggestion Guillermo to replace all primary pumps on the HIE ISOLDE CM's, backing line and roughing line - estimation 1/2 day once all material is in place: end of May / June, to be scheduled according to VSC availability
• Info Giampaolo 2 wks ago: The REX RF amplifiers will be consolidated this LS, however, the Low Level RF will need to wait and will not be included.. (There will be remote operation possible in case of an amplifier restart). To be clarified
• REX-ISOLDE leak tests carried out last week (Guillermo) (see ITC meeting)
  Suggestion Guillermo regarding further tests: potential leak in the large box in SEP10. Helium background slope to be analyzed and attempt to distinguish between permeation and a real leak. These tests will require some preparation and should be planned in advance (Fredrik does not expect the large flange to be the issue). Can be scheduled later this week. First the core drilling in the HRS Separator area has finished area outside/arund REXTRAP is clear again. 
• Temporary position fire extinguisher from HRS Sep zone door to on the wall next to the REXTRAP cage on the pillar was validated by Julien (Thiboud)
• Antony (Newborough) pointed out that several REX LINAC magnets' contacts covers are not conform safety standard - to be addressed during the LS
• Request of Nicolas Thaus VSC to modify the chamber of the XL9GP Quad (last in REX LINAC before CM1/DBox) - replace the polymere joint side by a metal flange with metal joint. Antony was contacted as owner of the Quad. For the intervention the Quad needs dismounting from the machine: To be scheduled with Antony and transport. Can be done any time with no secific work foreseen in the tunnel other than the replacement of the dry pumps (to be coordinated) 

HEBT lines Gas-distribution system commissioning:

• Check Status
  - Interface with outside panel to control the various electro valves ok? New safety valve to be installed in the outside cage (Letizia)
  - in the 3 racks a copper grounding bar is missing to connect the detector equipment (James)

 

Separator zones HRS & GPS:

• core drilling for survey interconnecting network done. Area is clear again.
• EPC/elements cable testing forseen today, Tue 19/05, in the GPS sep zone - access system was down, ok now (see EPC platform). As of tomorrow, Wed 20/05 in the HRS sep zone.
• GPS FC490 will be removed Wedn 20/05 to accomodate the scaffolding above the GPS 20 sector for upcoming core drilling. BI team has adapted the plexi storage box for the FC490 unit, DN100 ISO provided by vVSC (Guillermo).
  
  

Work in the 170 HT room:

• GPS and HRS target heating power supplies replacement has finished - test can be carried out if target cooling water is available + controls - date?
• Boris tube HRS & GPS HT tests cannot be carried out with the faraday-cages in the target zone open and machine RP protection shielding in place.
  
  

14:35 → 14:40 Experiments related activities in the experimental hall

Speakers: Hanne Heylen (CERN), Oscar Fjeld (CERN)

• Source measurements ongoing in April

  • Issues due to cabling campaign in RC6 (plastic falling, barriers not respected, ...)
• VITO - plan to move equipment next to Miniball -> Date to be confirmed
• COLLAPS/CRIS platform update

 

Key points of impact

• Access to 508
•  

 

14:40 → 14:45 Experiments related activities in the experimental hall

Speaker: Erwin Siesling (CERN)

ISOLTRAP:

• ISOLTRAP platform replacement work: 18th June scaffolding - first platform part to finish ~22 July.
• VITO laser tube is to stay in place: Has been discussed with the scaffolding organising responsible (Michael Bourbon). To be noted on the scaffolding contractor's work order at the next occasion.

 

WISARD:

• planning to come 15 - 19 June to mount the setup for off line data taking
• week 27 (29 June) to cooldown the magnet
• taking data wk27-29 until July 19
• Coordinate with ISOLTRAP & RILIS work. Crane needed for dewar craning WISARD

Beamlines:

• PUMA - RL7 installation work on supports and equipment ongoing

• RC6 & RL7 signal cabling (BI / Vacuum) work on the floor and mezzanine side ongoing + installation work of RL7 equipment: Severe dust and plastic parts coming down at the IDS setup + zonage not always respected / dewars being moved. Rustan has discussed it with the contractors again and we will keep a closer check.
• A few BI cables to RL7 were found to be too short are being rerouted

14:45 → 14:50 Mechanical Workshop and other support requests

Speaker: Oscar Fjeld (CERN)

14:50 → 14:55 Planned visits and AOBs

Speaker: Hanne Heylen (CERN)