A Note From Our Chairman

We have completed Fiscal Year 2008 in good shape. We have been able to create a nest- egg for FY2009. Congress has passed a Continuing Resolution for FY2009 that will give us an operating budget at 1/12 of the FY2008 budget (not including the FY2008 supplemental funds) per month until March 6, 2009. Our nest egg of $3M will allow us to begin the RHIC cooldown on February 1. We will be running the 500 GeV polarized proton program. If sufficient time permits beyond the first ~9 weeks of operation, we will be switching to either 200 GeV protons or ion operations. The present funding guidance will allow us to run until early April. By that time we should know our total funding for the rest of the year, until September 30, 2009.

In order to allay any unnecessary anxiety, C-AD is not planning any reductions in force. On the contrary, we are actively hiring to fill key vacant positions.

The EBIS project is fully funded and we expect an increase of our Accelerator Improvement Project funding to the $3M level.

The NSRL science program has begun and we will be running it until November 21.

On behalf of everyone at C-AD, I would like to send get well wishes to, Humberto Palacios, Joel Spinner (a C-AD retiree), and Kerry Unger

I wish them all a speedy recovery.

Administration

 FY 2008 slipped out quietly.  A Continuing Resolution (CR) through March 6^th was passed promptly and, for the duration of the CR, monthly expenditures must be matched to incremental funding installments.  FY 2008 carry-forward funds will provide the budgetary cushion needed to proceed with recruitment of additional engineering and technical staff.  A February 1^st  start to the cool down is planned irrespective of the FY 2009 budget status, although termination of the run at 8 to 10 weeks may be necessary in the event of either an unfavorable budget or a significantly delayed budget.

The Nuclear Physics Approved Funding Plan for October 2008 is as anticipated, with operating funds equal to those received in FY 2008, a much needed increase in AIP funding and the final installment of funds for EBIS.  NASA contract amendments received in late September provided sufficient funding NSRL Run 09A.

The FY 2008 Capital Equipment Inventory concluded with only 2 items missing.  This is in no small measure a reflection of Ann Lamberti’s dedication and persistence, Jerry Quigley’s in-depth knowledge of the facility and the extraordinary efforts of a few key personnel including, but not limited to, John White.  Thank you. 

Operations Update

NSRL operations resumed at the end of September and different ions are getting delivered accordingly to the planned requirements to the experiments. The Booster start-up was essentially seamless. Taking advantage of the ongoing Booster operations for NSRL, a program for studies in the BtA line has been proposed that holds the promise of improving the understanding of the BtA model. Furthermore, getting beam into the AGS at injection would give the chance to measure and improve the matching between BtA and AGS. Mismatch at AGS injection causes emittance increase and possibly polarization loss in AGS.

The study plan and its impact on the remaining shutdown activities are being reviewed this week in anticipation of starting beam activity in the week of October 13, typically in the evening after the end of the daily NSRL activities.

Shutdown work in RHIC and remaining work in the injectors continue and as always you can check on progress on http://www.cadops.bnl.gov/AGS/Accel/Maintenance/

The approval of at least 6 months of continuing resolutions for the FY09 budget sets February 1^st 2009 as the earliest start date for the 4K RHIC cool-down. Planning for the RHIC start-up has already started and Mei Bai will be the Run Coordinator for the 250 GeV polarized proton run, the most likely initial operations mode this year.  Eduard Pozdeyev has just started in his role as Scheduling Physicist for FY09.

Safety Stats

NEXT EXCHANGE:  DECEMBER 5, 2008