Director’s Review of E-907 (MIPP) Main Injector Particle Production (Raja)

November 10, 2004

CHARGE

Context

There is considerable uncertainty about how commissioning and operation of Fermilab's several competing physics programs will go when the accelerators come back on following the current shutdown.  Thus, it is important to have thought through a number of scenarios in advance – in order to be prepared to maximize the physics output.

Priority will be given to Collider operation, followed by MiniBooNE (for 11 weeks), and commissioning the new NuMI beam.  We anticipate that after 11 weeks, NuMI priority will rise.  Throughout the upcoming period, we plan to operate SY120 within the existing guideline of remaining at or under a 5% effect on the rest of the program.  Since MIPP is the most important component in the present SY120 program, MIPP's needs will influence how we schedule detailed SY120 operations.

Total Booster losses will be a limitation on operation of the Collider and neutrino programs, specially early in the upcoming period.  During this early period, SY120 programs will have their best opportunity for accumulating beam spill-time without exceeding the above guideline.  We do not know just how much spill-time this will total.  We should have a better idea once we see the effects of shutdown changes in the Booster and once we gain some experience with NuMI commissioning.  Thus, it may be important to ensure that MIPP data-taking is optimally set up.

The "desired MIPP run plan" in Appendix C of the Memorandum of Understanding between Fermilab and the MIPP experiment, dated January 27, 2004, calls for a total of 1.3 × 10⁶ spill seconds of beam.  While Fermilab will attempt to meet this target, current uncertainties in running conditions require that we consider contingencies.

Charge

In order to understand better its program and to help ensure appropriate planning by MIPP, the Director is scheduling a review of MIPP run plans. To provide a focus, we request that the experiment present its plans and the physics achievable under the following scenarios:

1) Delivery of the full 1.3 × 10⁶ spill seconds of beam

2) Delivery of 5 × 10⁵ spill seconds of beam

3) Delivery of 2 × 10⁵ spill seconds of beam

In each case, the experiment should assume that we will begin with only the lowest total of beam assured.

The review committee is charged with understanding the run plans and commenting on them.  The committee should identify, in particular, any possible efficiencies, making any suggestions on best utilization of beam time, and should recommend any further actions to ensure a fruitful experiment.