Good vacuum has been achieved and no radiation hot spots have been observed during the recommissioning phases. Unfortunately, we lost a klystron tube in mid-June and there are still problems with lifetime. Nevertheless, both the external machine advisory committee (which had predicted the work would take from 18-24 months) and the scientific advisory committee have been extremely complimentary of the progress and depth of focus achieved by everyone in the CAMD community. As things improve, I will keep you abreast.
Meanwhile, construction of the protein crystallography beam line (Oxford Instruments, now Danphysik) proceeds on schedule. We are also constructing a second double crystal monochromator beam line and are evaluating and cleaning up a beryllium window break at our X-ray microprobe beam line. Fortunately, the contamination has been well-characterized and circumscribed, and we should be up and running shortly. We are excited about completing the first real chemistry laboratory in the facility that will serve our user community, especially the protein crystallographers. In addition to fume hoods and glove boxes that are currently being fitted into our ventilation system, this well-designed small space will truly fill a gap in our infrastructure. Further infrastructure improvements include a machine shop. It is incredible that our facility has survived without one for a decade.
On a personal note, it was wonderful to see everyone in Cleveland, and I look forward to seeing you at the midyear in Orlando, where the topic will be decommissioning. By the way, if you or someone you know would like to give a continuing education lecture (CEL) or a professional enrichment program (PEP), please don't hesitate to contact me, as I serve on the Continuing Education Committee.
Congratulations to Vashek Vylet, who gave an excellent presentation on health physics issues of accelerators. I hope he will consider giving it again in Tampa. Offering PEP courses and CELs on accelerator-related topics helps the section and increases our visibility. If the health physics community doesn't know about our section, they are not likely to check us out.
So, here is a challenge to all our members to help spread the word about the Accelerator Section. If we want our own summer school, we will have to reach out to the health physics community as a whole.