ISOLDE Technical Coordination Meeting (LS3)

Tuesday 9 Jun 2026, 14:00 → 15:00 Europe/Zurich

508/1-001 (CERN)

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

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

minutes_2026_06_02_Draft.docx

minutes_2026_06_02_Draft.pdf

14:05 → 14:15 Safety matters

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

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

• False floor re-enforcement in B. 197: SCE has proposed the layout of the modified structure. Waiting for SY-EPC to launch the work (dismantling of existing racks and power converters for the BTY line)
• IBDRS: GPS dump dismantling

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

IBDRS_reporting_S23_26.pdf

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

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

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

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

Platform EPC:

• Ticket open for neons above the platform (Jerome Cantet EN/EL) - in progress/to follow up
• New beamlines depart: RY02 - RY06 'beamlines' from ERD11.06*80 (via ERK3*80) - needs final validation / connection (Nicolas David / Patrick Gallay EN/EL) 
• Scaffolding will be removed wk 24 (in 2 weeks) (in parallel with construction of the scaffolding around REXTRAP) - supposed to start today 10h.. Postponed till thsi afternoon as of 15h
• Platform should be ready mid-June to start commissioning - Nicolas commissioning the controls on the platform (gateway and power supplies)
• Plan/action points to be listed for the hardware commissioning phase (BE-OP-ISO: Miguel/Lefteris/Erwin/Alberto)

 

ISOLDE vacuum system: 

• Restarted pumping of the HRS10 (FE) sector for power tests tomorrow 10/06 (Julien)
• HRS & Replacement of the HRS20 & HRS30 pumping groups valves in the HRS separator zone (Guillermo) - Cable tests and core drilling done. Monobloc (door) has been removed today 09/06:  VSC intervention can potentially be planned.

REX/HIE ISOLDE: 

• Digital LLRF together with replacement for REX 101MHZ Solid State amplifiers under discussion - More news after MTP outcome. Aiming for a conclusion before the next ISCC (18/06). Next meeting Mon 15/06 to follow up.
• Actions on the REX/HIE list:
  - HIE: replacement prim. pumps CMs, backing & roughing lines - After discussion with Guillermo: Due to unknown exact delivery time this will be carried out in Oct/Nov (after LHC LS high peak work).
  - Modification of the chamber of the XL9GP Quad (last in REX LINAC before CM1/DBox) (Nicolas Thaus TE/VSC). Quad to be taken out for this - to be scheduled with Antony Newborough and transport. - to be done.
  - Characterization of the REX RF structures in the frame of the LLRF design (Daniel Valuch, Gaimpaolo Piccinini SY/RF). No RF power, no water needed - to be scheduled (SY/RF availability) - to be done.
  - Removal of the obsolete 9GAP 202MHZ amplifier workaround cables (2015) from the mezzanine/MR-Tof area into the tunnel to the 9GAP structure (~11x) (Rustan Calming cable team EN/EL) - this week (postponed from last week)
  
  
• REX Low E development:
  - Replacement of the leaking REX mass slits actuator for a bellow type one . Discussion on remote/manual ongoing. Manual version exists (easier integration and installation, low costs, seldom used). - Installation in the cause of LS. - decision to be taken on the type (Fredrik in strong favour of the manual version).
  - Changes to mass slits and foils: longer stroke (100 mm) and have slightly wider slits (Fredrik). Having a (HIE ISOLDE long type) FC in this position would be beneficial (Alberto) - this will be included in any case.
  - Suppress the slit in the vertical part of the REX separator and instead install a 280 l/s turbo pump to increase the pumping speed in the system - in the cause of LS.
  
  
• REX EBIS platform modification in the frame of the RILIS project (discovered..). 30cm of th eplatform will need to be cut (on the RILIS side)
• Visit with steakholders 08/06
• Main issues being addressed:
  - For weekly operation a solution is being discussed for the dewars (LHe 80 cm , LN2 90 cm - at the limit)
  - For the annual cooldown and new large 500L LHe dewar a solution needs to be found (more narrow dewar / several dewars / crane in..)
  - The inner drifttube structure of the solenoid (215 cm) will need to be able to be taken out: check with Vincent and Frderik CATIA drawings ongoing
  - When alligining the solenoid (no magnetic field) a 285 cm tube is inserted from the RILIS side: This needs to be integrated as well
• Will be part of the ICL meeting 
  
  
• For installation of the CHROME related cables a scaffodling will be put up along the VITO and CAO line of the REXTRAP cage. Access to the door of the cage (filling) will remain. - Installation scaffolding as of today 09/06 (starting time postponed from 10h to 15h). Work will last ~2 weeks (Rustan teams)

 

Separator zones HRS & GPS:

• GPS scaffolding to be removed 
• HRS monobloc has been removed today Tues 9/06.
  
  

Beamlines:

• Rack 50 (BI instrumentation) move forward by 1m50 ongoing + removal of the shielding block & move of cable tray: In the frame of the RILIS project
• Complicated: Transport and BI possibly with EN/EL working on a solution (see RILIS reporting Laura)
  
  

Commissioning new target heating power supplies 170 HT room:

• HRS & GPS target heating tests foreseen Wed 10/06:
  - targets under vacuum - HRS10 restarted: OK
  - water cooling for the targets running - restart Mon 08/06 (test): Restarted and OK. Stopped GPS, HRS running for tests 10/06.
  - lock-out for the target heating power racks - Tues 09/06: Done  Attn. New departs: HRS = ERD11.19*80, GPS = ERD11.39*80 are crossed - intervention today by EN/EL to correct.
  - Wed 10/06: Morning tests by EPC (Julien), afternoon/parallel controls tests by OP (Lefteris)

• GPS powering tests cannot be carried out due to escavation work around the GPS Boris tube (IBDRS) - probably in 3 wks (GPS stays locked out on the 125A power convertor side: Ana-Paula)
• 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.

 

Fiber Optics work:

• The White Rabbit fiber installation work by Nenad's team has not been finsihed completely last week: Thursd 18/06 short zoom meeting to discuss and schedulethe remaining work. 

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

from Hanne:
Planned/ongoing experimental
• Wisard: the team is planning to come between 15 and 19 June (Week 25) to install the setup for offline data taking. Not yet cooldown of the magnet, so no/limited craning.
• IDS: measurements campaign with samples/sources continues
o Request to cut the plastic on top
o Item profile supports with concrete blocks currently standing close to the SAS will be transported to long-term storage
• ISOLTRAP start scaffolding installation next week Thursday 18/6
o Effects? (small request to Erwin, could you forward the invitation for future VICs as well, since I wasn't aware of the one last week and I had some questions after talking with Arthur)

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

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

Speaker: Erwin Siesling (CERN)

ISOLTRAP:

• upcoming work for the replacement of the platform floors/wood. Schedule by Severin:
• VIC done
  
  

Installation de chantier

Mise en place des protections et échafaudage périphérique

Démontage des cloisons existantes au RDC

 

1ère phase : du 18/06 au 21/07

Démontage du plancher supérieur avec l'aide du transport

Installation de la nouvelle structure aluminium

 

2ème phase : du 23/07 au 18/08

Démontage du plancher inférieur

Installation de la nouvelle structure aluminium

 

Nettoyage et repli de chantier

• VITO laser tube to be kept in place (will be taken ibto account)
• Emergency exit all done

 

WISARD:

• planning to come 15 - 19 June to mount the setup for off line data taking - no cooldown= no craning limitation
• 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

 

COLLAPS/CRIS platform:

• An initial design has been made and has been transmitted to Vincent Barozier for further integration - ongoing
• Position of the arrival of the laser beams onto the setup are defined: Design for mirror carying pillars to start
• Severin D'Armancourt and Tiago Nico (SCE) in the loop for civil engineering integration and metal structure design and calculation

 

IDS:

• request to remove old plastics - ticket to be opened / EN/EL request?
• See Hanne reporting

 

VITO:

• Temporary installation of a HT cage next to the REXTRAP timing rack foreseen for a few months

Beamlines:

• RC6 MR-Tof installation work continuing (Lukas / Alex)
• Cabling work in the RC6/RL7 area finsihed (few details)
• Old 9 GAP RF cables going to be removed
• PUMA floorprint indicated. First drawing of the position the AC power distribution cabinet and cable trays done by Lukas - to be be presented at the Integration meeting
• RL7 installation work on supports and equipment continues
• Mezzanine work on connectors finishing

 

Infrastructure / cooling and chilled water cut (IBDRS related) (dates:  19/08   -       ):

• Compressed air to be kept (isolate 198/199 area from 170 area)
• 508 AC will be cut affected: Laser labs 508 will be affected
• 170 demi water 27 degrees will be cut: COLLAPS, VITO, PUMA will be affected
• 170 raw water 20 degrees will be cut: No RF power restart / LLRF characterization test with REX RF amplifiers and REX structures possible (can possibly be done without power. D. Valuch)
• (Cryo tests foreseen Q4 2027 in the frame of the integration of the LHe dewar and restart of the Cryo plant - 27 demi cooling water needed)

 

 

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

Speaker: Oscar Fjeld (CERN)

Last Week:

• VITO machining:
  • Teflon and steel pushing mechanism for RF-Line tool
  • Stopper elements in Alu
  • 2 flanges with feedthrough openings
• Miniball - moving of rack 
• IDS - Lead usage in sample holder
• Delivered design of ISOLDE sign for 197 smaller version

 

Next week/New jobs:

• VITO - profiles to be cut
• LaBr detector cover design - Lorenzo
• IDS - Ti44 sample opening at Medicis to take measures.
• Design shielding Ti44 sample holder

14:50 → 14:55 Planned visits and AOBs

From Hanne:
• AC cut for laser labs in 508
o VITO: needs to commission the rf-laser spectroscopy setup, which is a development committed in an ERC Grant ending August 2027 so they need a temperature controlled lab for a longer period after August. We had a discussion with Alexandre last week and the preliminary idea is that a mobile unit could be installed and the ducts could then go through the false ceiling via 508/R-008 to the outside. This will of course be a costly affair, even for the rent of the unit alone (who will pay?). Once it is clear what requirements VITO has in terms of T and stability, EN/CV will look into renting/buying a mobile unit. Still needs more detailed discussion.
o COLLAPS would only want to be sure to be able to continue measuring until end of August. They asked if they could put their own mobile unit for ~1 week, with either the doors open (to be discussed with EP safety) or by putting the exhaust through an existing hole (?) into the ISOLDE hall. To be discussed, it would be only for a short period at the end of August.
o CRIS, no input so far, sent reminder.
• Temporary access ramp 508 was reinforced after the storm on Wednesday
• Can we plan the installation of coat hangers for helmets by Oscar?
• Visits
o ISOLTRAP start scaffolding installation next week Thursday 18/6 -> any impact on visits during that period, first one after 18/6 is on the 25th?.

Speaker: Hanne Heylen (CERN)