sPHENIX is a new detector at RHIC.

[David Morrison <morrison AT bnl.gov>]

Dear sPHENIX collaborators,

A couple of notable items from the weekly update that ALD Haiyan Gao sends to the staff of BNL's Nuclear and Particle Physics Directorate:

•  Update on RHIC/1004B valve box: Electrical testing of the superconducting cable distribution system continued last week.   Tests of the cold-crossing bus (CCB) indicate that there is a short and unusual voltage tap readings at the D0 and DX magnet interface in the RHIC tunnel on the Arc Sector 5 side of IR04.  To further isolate the location of the short, the DX and D0 magnet will be totally separated by opening the CCB.  Work planning and review for opening the RHIC triplet cryostat and then CCB splice- can were completed and approved.  The cryostat has been opened and the splice-can will be opened early this week.  The spare lead assembly for the damaged 12-conductor cold-to-warm and gas-cooled current lead in the lead pot inside the 1004B valve box passed vacuum leak checks, and work plans for electrical and pressure tests are being developed.  Both tests are expected to take place this week.   Concerning the Helium breach in the 1004B valve box, the upper flange, bellows, and damaged section of the lead stainless steel tube were removed.  The replacement upper flange has been ordered through BNL Central Shops, the interconnect tube is on hand, a bottom adapter ring drawing to be fabricated in Central shops is in process, and quotes have been received for the replacement bellows.  A design review for this repair will take place next week and all parts for this repair are expected to be received before the end of October.

• Update on RHIC Blue Ring Siberian Snake magnet reinstallation:  Removal of the dummy magnet commenced last week and is expected to continue this week.  The Siberian Snake magnet is since July 2023 ready for installation following successful repair by the Superconducting Magnet Division.

•  A government shutdown is an increasing possibility as each day goes by without a budget for FY2024. If by September 30^th this is still the case, then a government shutdown will take place starting October 1.  As a DOE contractor with carryover funds, a short-term government shutdown will not affect the lab in a major way. However, the NSAC meeting on Long Range Plan scheduled for October 4, 2023, could not take place in the event of a government shutdown as NSAC is a federally instituted committee.

Regards,
Dave

-- 
David Morrison  Brookhaven National Laboratory  phone: 631-344-5840
                Physics Department, Bldg 510 C    fax: 631-344-3253
                          Upton, NY 11973-5000  email: dave AT bnl.gov