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New detector's goals are massive

It's a morning ritual for many: step out of the shower, step on the scale, and groan. But what (aside from Eli's chocolate-chip cheesecake) is causing that dreaded number to appear? What gives an object mass?

It's fundamental questions like the origin of mass that teams of researchers from all over the world are trying to answer with a new detector for Europe's Large Hadron Collider. Argonne's High Energy Physics Division is playing an integral role in assembling and testing major components for the detector, named ATLAS (not to be confused with the Argonne Tandem Linear Accelerator System at the laboratory's Illinois site).

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is an underground accelerator now under construction at CERN, the European Center for Nuclear Research near Geneva, Switzerland. When completed, it will bring protons -- positively charged elementary particles found in the center, or nucleus, of all atoms -- into head-on collision at 14 trillion electron-volts (Tev). That's seven times more energy than Fermilab's Tevatron, now the world's most powerful atom-smasher.

The ATLAS detector is two generations more advanced than its cousin, the Collider Detector at Fermilab, said Argonne's Jim Proudfoot (HEP), who is heading up the mechanical design and installation of the "scintillating tile calorimeter," one of five major components of the ATLAS detector.

Hardware

The 3,000-ton tile calorimeter is part of ATLAS's middle layer, and is designed to measure particle energy. It surrounds an inner tracking detector and another calorimeter filled with liquid argon, and is in turn surrounded by another detector.

Calorimeters measure energy; in this case, the energies of subatomic particles. The tile calorimeter can also determine the angles and trajectories of particles.

The entire ATLAS structure will be an eight-sided cylinder 195 feet (60 meters long) and 131 feet (40 m) in diameter and weighing 5,000 tons. The underground space in which it will be built is "enormous," Proudfoot said, "and we're going to use almost every cubic centimeter inside."

ATLAS will surround an "interaction point" where beams of protons will collide head-on. The tiny detonations will produce a spray of particles loosed from inside the protons and others created from the energy of the collision.

The tile calorimeter is so named because it's filled with thousands sheets of special plastic -- "tiles" -- about a foot long and between four and ten inches high. When a particle strikes the sheet, it will cause a tiny flash of ultraviolet light. An optical fiber conducts the flash to a sensitive photomultiplier tube, which converts it into an electrical signal to be interpreted by sophisticated computers and, eventually, physicists.

High-voltage control and readouts will be built directly into the submodules, which will each contain 8,000 tiles. This is a new approach, Proudfoot said, because of space constraints in the underground location. Most other detectors have these electronics mounted externally. "They have to be reliable, because they'll be hard to get out," he said, "plus they had to be shielded from strong magnetic fields." Powerful magnets surrounding the detectors will bend the paths of charged particles and make them easier to detect individually.

There are 64 submodules in each of the calorimeter's three sections. Argonne, in collaboration with physicists and engineers from the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of Texas at Arlington and Michigan State University, are planning to construct one of these sections. A protoype module was constructed at Argonne and shipped to Europe for testing in early 1997. Full-scale production will begin in 1999.

Argonne employees also conducted numerical analysis for calorimeter subsystems and suggested numerous design improvements. HEP Division employees contributing to the effort include Ed Berger, Bob Blair, John Dawson, Vic Guarino, Norm Hill, Ed May, Steve Mrenna, Larry Nodulman, Larry Price, Jim Proudfoot, Jim Schlereth, Bob Stanek and Barry Wicklund.

Throughout the ATLAS detector project, HEP Division employees are working closely with colleagues from institutions in many countries, including Armenia, The Republic of Belarus, Brazil, the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Portugal, Rumania, Russia, the Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

Next week: Computer and software systems for ATLAS and the questions physicists hope the detector will answer.

ANL-W employees invited
to `family night at ball park'

The Idaho Falls Braves and Butte, Montana, Copper Kings will square off at 7:15 p.m.; gates open at 6 p.m.

Tickets are $1.75 and are available from ticket sellers throughout the Argonne-West site, or by calling Shelley Wray (RPS-HR) at ext. 3-7323. Retirees are welcome.

LeSage honored by the University of Kansas

The award is given annually in recognition of contributions to the advancement of the engineering field by an alumnus.

LeSage received the award for his significant contributions to the theory, literature and practice of engineering, as well as for demonstrating unusual accomplishments in new and developing fields of engineering technology.

A member of Argonne's scientific staff for 30 years, LeSage is a research program director in the office of the associate laboratory director for engineering research. His current work is focused on developing an environmentally safe, long-term solution to the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident.

After the accident, the Soviet Union constructed a cover over the reactor remains. The shelter is deteriorating, and the U.S., in cooperation with the European Union and Ukraine, is working to develop ways to stabilize the site.

LeSage has also worked with NATO and Russia on the problems associated with the decommissioning of nuclear submarines.

He was previously director of Argonne's Applied Physics and Engineering Physics Divisions responsible for research in experimental and analytical reactor physics, arms control and safeguards, fusion technology, applied particle accelerator development and the operation of several research reactors. His primary area of individual research has been the physics of nuclear reactors.

In 1987, LeSage was named a fellow of the American Nuclear Society. Since 1992 he has served on the advisory board of the school of engineering at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. He has written more than 100 scientific articles and publications.

ECT Offers cc:Mail Class

The Electronics and Computing Technologies Division (ECT) will offer a class on cc:Mail electronic mail software on Wednesday, June 25. The class will be held in Argonne-East's Building 222 Room A240 from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The class will cover the basics of electronic mail and the operation of Lotus cc:Mail. Attendees will need a working knowledge of personal computer operation with the Windows operating system.

The cost of the class is $125. To enroll, call Diane Cavazos (OPS) at ext. 2-7153. For more information on the class, contact Ron Bare (ECT) at ext. 2-5442, or via e-mail at rabare@anl.gov.

`Magic Bus' to visit with
latest software, hardware

The exhibit will include the latest hardware and software products from Silicon Graphics/Cray Research, whose representatives will be available to conduct demonstrations and answer questions. Representatives from Molecular Simulations, Inc. (formerly Biosym) also will demonstrate their molecular modeling software.

Silicon Graphics, Inc. is a leading supplier of high-performance interactive computing systems. Molecular Simulations Inc. is a leading provider of molecular modeling, simulation and bio-informatics software for both life and materials science research.

For more information, call Bill Nickless (MCS) at ext. 2-7390 or Tom Joachimi of Silicon Graphics at (847) 925-2908.

Cafeteria, Guest House menus now on Web

A link to the menus can be found on the Argonne News home page.

Cafeteria menus will be updated weekly.

Marriott seeks
part-time help

Anyone interested can pick up an application at the Building 213 Cafeteria or call Dennis Sullivan or Mariann Gappa at ext. 2-5225.

D&D decisionmakers
to meet at Argonne

The conference's goal is to gather federal and commercial executives to discuss issues facing decontamination and decommissioning (D&D) programs.

Speakers will include Argonne Director Dean Eastman; Cheri Langenfeld, manager, DOE Chicago Operations Office; James J. O'Connor, CEO and Chairman of Commonwealth Edison; Clyde Frank, DOE deputy assistant secretary for science and technology; and Rita Bajura, director, DOE Federal Energy Technology Center.

The conference also will include optional tours of Argonne's CP-5 reactor site and Commonwealth Edison's Dresden-I reactor site, both of which are currently undergoing D&D .

For more information, call Sam Bhattacharyya's office at ext. 2-3293.

Special registration fees are being negotiated for Argonne employees, so those planning to register should contact Bhattacharyya as soon as possible.

Instructional Technology Video Viewing

The showing is free and will begin at at 3 p.m. in Argonne-East's Building 201, Room 274. All employees whose schedules permit are welcome to attend.

The video is hosted by Elliott Masie, author of "The Computer Training Handbook." He is a regular magazine columnist and conducts one-hour telephone broadcasts on technology,

His seminar, "The Best of Both Worlds: Blending Instructor-Led Training with Online Learning," will include tips on when and how to combine online learning with a traditional training course. The video also covers methods of developing a training intranet, incorporating technology into a training plan, staying technologically current and using on-line learning as a tool to manage trainer burnout.

For more information and course materials, call Karen Kroczek (ESH) at ext. 2-8764 or John Hyzer (HR) at ext. 2-3503.

Pacesetter Awards

Wolfgang Sturhahn, Esen Alp and Thomas Toellner (all XFD) won Pacesetter Awards for pioneering the use of nuclear resonant scattering of X-rays to develop an ultra-high-resolution inelastic X-ray scattering program at the Advanced Photon Source. The technique is a versatile new tool for studying a wide variety of problems in the physics of liquids and solids.

Rogers designs system
for cooling X-ray optics

Shawn Rogers (XFD) was honored with a Pacesetter Award for designing, developing and testing cryogenically cooled crystal optics and associated hardware for the X-ray beamlines at the Advanced Photon Source. This cooling technology for X-ray optics is now the major component of most beamlines built by APS Collaborative Access Teams (CATs).

Ockers repairs HVEM
after battery failure

Stanley T. Ockers (MSD) won a Pacesetter Award for his extraordinary effort in repairing theHigh-Voltage Electron Microscope-Tandem facility after a battery system failure. His efforts significantly shortened the recovery period, returning the facility to full service in about four months.

Major network crash
repaired by PHY duo

Donald Cyborski and Torben Lauritsen (both PHY) have been honored with Pacesetter Awards for diagnosing and repairing a catastrophic network problem affecting the Physics Division's computer systems.

Hard work helps bring
`Reaction' to Argonne

Catherine Foster (OPA), Frank Brumwell (IPNS) and Gerald McMichael (IPNS) won a Pacesetter Award for identifying, developing, managing and supporting the opportunity for Argonne to be featured in the major motion picture "Chain Reaction." Their efforts over the course of a year brought substantial visibility to the laboratory.

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Deadline Information

Story ideas, comments and suggestions are welcome. The Argonne News office is in Building 201, room 2Q-02 (OPA-201). The fax number is ext. 2-5274. Send E-mail to Argonne News editor Dave Jacque.

Seminar listings: Send by inter-office mail to Evie Fagan, Building 201, room 2U-09 (OPA-201). Fax to ext. 2-5274, or send by E-mail.

Classified ads: Please limit ads to 25 words. Send by inter-office mail to Evelyn Fagan, Building 201, room 2U-09 (OPA-201). A drop box is located at the Argonne News office.

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