Status Updates

What's missing?

The APS-U involves replacement of the existing ring with new superconducting magnets that will create a multi-bend achromat.  During the month of May, workers at the APS are removing both the old ring and the components which will need to be upgraded for the new lattice.  Today, as part of the deconstruction process, the front end table for 24-ID was removed.  

Installation of the new ring is scheduled to begin in June.

Crystal Cage Installation in New Mono

Iam Campton of FMB Oxford was here in April to install the channel cut crystal for the new monochromator.  The crystal is surrounded by a cage and then both items are installed inside the steel vaccuum chamber.

RAPD and Remote Unavailable 12/23/2022 - 1/12/2023

In order to repair one of the redundant 13.2 keV lines from Building 450, all conventional power to the entire APS will be shut off from January 4-12, 2023.  This includes NE-CAT and our computing infrastructure.  In preparation for the power shutdown, NE-CAT will be powering down RAPD and REMOTE on December 22.  To obtain your images and processed data, between December 22 and January 12, you may use Globus (see instructions).  

Poxvirus Research at NE-CAT

In 2019 and 2020, the Kranzusch Lab of Harvard Medical School’s Dana Farber Cancer Institute observed the behavior of poxviruses in studies of a molecule (cGAMP) commonly produced by mammalian cells when they evade viral infection. The researchers had isolated a gene from a poxvirus that seemed designed to degrade that protective molecule and thus help the virus avoid signaling an immune response.

NE-CAT and the APS-U

To help you continue collecting data during the APS-U down time (est. April 2023-April 2024), we are putting together a data collection program. We plan to combine proposals into Block Allocation Group (BAG) proposals at the US sources: NSLSII, MacCHESS, ALS, and SSRL. (If sufficient time is not obtainable in the US, foreign synchrotrons will be explored.) This is an alternative to submitting your own individual or BAG proposals.

Some benefits of the NE-CAT BAG Program:

Locking Pins Are Essential

WARNING

LOCKING ROD MUST BE IN PLACE FOR SHIPPING

...are the words at the top of every shipping cane.  How many of us have read the words or even noticed that they exist?  What happens if you don't put the locking pin in the hole before shipping your pucks?  

New Scheduling Email

Starting this run, we are sending scheduling emails from a central address: necat@anl.gov  Please feel free to send emails to that address if you need to request time as well.   We are letting everyone know of this change, because it seems to be going to SPAM for some people, or getting overlooked since it’s not expected.  

If you have any needs for this run, please feel free to reach out to necat@anl.gov

Dewar Recovery

Sometimes, a dewar arrives warm and without any visible or noticeable breaks in any of the common breakpoints, such as the neck.  In these situations, it is possible that the vacuum has been lost on the dewar over time, preventing it from holding temperature.  NE-CAT can check the integrity of the vacuum by pumping down the dewar, then, while the dewar is under vacuum, Ed Lynch flows helium gas over the outside of the vacuum vessel, especially at the seams.

EIGER2 X Detector Repairs

At the start up of operations for the 2021-2 run, it was discovered that one of the cards which aggregates data from multiple modules in the EIGER2 detector on 24-ID-C was faulty.  As a result, NE-CAT was forced to reschedule all users on 24-ID-C for the first week of user operations.  However, Dectris was able to immediately send us a replacement part which was successfully installed by Ed Lynch, Jim Withrow, and Malcolm Capel.  Replacing the card did require removal of the EIGER2 from the 24-ID-C A-frame and its subsequent re-installation.

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