Fermilab Today Monday, December 18, 2006
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Mon., December 18
2:30 p.m. Particle Astrophysics Seminar - Curia II
Speaker: M. Voit, Michigan State University
Title: Galaxy Clusters Scaling Relations and Cosmology
3:30 p.m. Director's Coffee Break - 2nd floor crossover
4:00 p.m. All Experimenters' Meeting - Curia II
Special Topic: Rapid Transfers to the Recycler

Tue., December 19
3:30 p.m. Director's Coffee Break - 2nd floor crossover

THERE WILL BE NO ACCELERATOR PHYSICS AND TECHNOLOGY SEMINAR TODAY

Click here for NALCAL,
a weekly calendar with links to additional information.

Weather

WeatherPartly Cloudy 40°/21°

Extended Forecast
Weather at Fermilab

Current Security Status

Secon Level 3

Wilson Hall Cafe
Monday, December 18
-Wisconsin Cheese
-Corned Beef Reuben
-Stuffed Chicken Breast
-Mostaccioli Al Forno
-Chicken Oriental Wrap Pineapple
-Assorted Slice Pizza

Wilson Hall Cafe Menu

Chez Leon

Wednesday, December 20
Lunch
Salmon and Spinach Wellington
Mixed Greens with Radishes
and Raspberry Vinaigrette
Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Sauce

Thursday, December 21
Dinner
Chestnut Soup with Cognac Cream
Lobster Tail with Champagne Butter Sauce
Spaghetti Squash with Green Onions
Spinach Salad with Pomegranates
Raspberry Parfait with Assortment of Christmas Cookies

Chez Leon Menu
Call x4598 to make your reservation.

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Result of the Week
Safety Tip of the Week
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Info

Fermilab Today is online at:
www.fnal.gov/today/

Send comments and suggestions to:
today@fnal.gov

Special Announcement

Potential J-1 Visa Issue

Fermilab employees and users who hold J-1 or J-2 visas sponsored by Fermilab should be aware of a potential visa issue. The US Department of State has informed Universities Research Association, Inc. (URA) that after December 31, 2006 when Fermi Research Alliance (FRA) takes over management of Fermilab, URA will no longer be authorized to sponsor J visas. However, the State Department has not yet authorized FRA to continue this sponsorship. It is expected that FRA authorization will occur, but there is the possibility of a gap between the end of URA visa sponsorship and the start of FRA sponsorship.

During this time, J-1 and J-2 visa holders traveling outside the United States need to be aware of the possibility that their visas may not be recognized by immigration authorities when they re-enter the United States after December 31, 2006. Fermilab has notified current J-1 visa holders of this potential issue and can provide them with documentation to attempt to address this problem if it arises. This issue does not affect the holders of other visa types. More information will be provided when it becomes available. Meanwhile, those with questions should contact Borys Jurkiw (x4363 or borys@fnal.gov), or Melissa Clayton (x 3933 or mclayton@fnal.gov).

Special Announcement

New Employment Website

With enormous help from computing expert Jean Reising, the Employment department has revamped the Jobs at Fermilab website to include Employer of Choice awards, employee profiles, and a focus on diversity initiatives. Excerpts are also included from the "Why Work at Fermilab?" online employee survey. Thanks to all who provided comments!

We are also looking to periodically update our employee profiles on the homepage. Please e-mail your nominations for employees who exemplify what it means to work at Fermilab to hsidman@fnal.gov.

We encourage you to view the updated website and provide feedback on the content and ease of use.

--Heather Sidman, Employee Relations
Readers Write

Aurora over Aurora?

Dear FT:

I took this photo at about 8 p.m. Thursday night from the E sector of the Main Ring. It was very beautiful--the most brilliant display we saw occurred while I was setting up the camera (of course).

The northern lights are a result from solar activity, and as beautiful as the Aurora is, it is just as damaging to worldwide HF (short wave) communications that rely on the atmosphere to bounce the signals around the world.

Also, the same light can be seen in a particle accelerator. For an example, take a look at this old photograph of the LBL 60-inch cyclotron beam being unleashed into the air.

Enjoy,
Tim Koeth
Rutgers University
In the News

Physorg.com,
December 14, 2006:

Alternative theory of gravity explains large structure formation -- without dark matter

In the standard theory of gravity-general relativity-dark matter plays a vital role, explaining many observations that the standard theory cannot explain by itself. But for 70 years, cosmologists have never observed dark matter, and the lack of direct observation has created skepticism about what is really out there.

Lately, some scientists have turned the question around, from "is dark matter correct?" to "is our standard theory of gravity correct?" Most recently, Fermilab scientists Scott Dodelson and former Brinson Fellow Michele Liguori demonstrated one of the first pieces of theoretical evidence that an alternative theory of gravity can explain the large scale structure of the universe.

"To definitively claim that dark matter is the answer, we need to find it," Dodelson explained to PhysOrg.com. "We can do this in one of three ways: produce it in the lab (which might happen at Fermilab, the soon-to-start LHC, or ultimately the International Linear Collider), see a pair of dark matter particles annihilate and produce high energy photons (there are about a half dozen experiments designed to look for this), or see a dark matter particle bump a nucleus in a large underground detector (again, about 10 experiments are looking for this). Until one or more of these things happen, skeptics are still allowed. . After they happen, skeptics will become crackpots."

Read More

Safety Tip of the Week

CO: New monitor law


Carbon monoxide (CO) detectors range in price from about $20 to $60. Different models plug into the wall, are connected to the building's power line or run on batteries.

Illinois has a new CO detector law that goes into effect on January 1, 2007. All buildings that use fossil fuel and have sleeping rooms or an attached garage must have an approved, operating CO detector installed within 15 feet of any sleeping area.

CO is produced by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels such as natural gas, gasoline or wood. Typical sources include heating equipment, cooking apparatus and internal combustion engines. CO is odorless, tasteless and invisible. Symptoms increase with concentration and time. Overexposure is often mistaken as seasonal illness since symptoms include dizziness, nausea, headache, coughing, irregular heartbeat, pale skin, and red lips and ear tips. According to the National Safety Council, 200-300 people die each year in the United States from CO poisoning, while thousands more are sickened. Many victims are overcome in their sleep.

The Illinois State Fire Marshal plans to enforce the new law through anecdotal observations. If a local fire department is called to a home, firefighters will check to see if there are working CO detectors. If not, the homeowner will be given a warning. Firefighters will come back later and issue a citation if the owner still hasn't complied. Violators are subject to a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,500 fine.

Safety Tip of the Week Archive

Accelerator Update

December 13 - 15
- Three stores provided 14 hours and 51 minutes of luminosity
- MI abort kicker power supply repaired
- MiniBooNE LCW pump repaired
- Store 5123 lost due to TeV quench
- TeV quenched during dry squeeze preparation
- Pbar magnet's hose breaks
- NuMI has kicker problem
- MCenter T959 experiment coming online today

Read the Current Accelerator Update
Read the Early Bird Report
View the Tevatron Luminosity Charts

Announcements

Time sheets due early for the holiday
Some dates to keep in mind:

  • Weekly time sheets for the week ending December 24 are due in Payroll by 10 a.m. on December 18.
  • Revisions for the week ending December 17 are due in Payroll by 9 a.m. on December 18.
  • Weekly employee pay dates for the week ending December 17 and December 24 will be December 21.
  • For monthly paid employees, the December pay date will be December 21.

Professional Development
New classes are always being added to the professional development schedule. For the most up-to-date course offerings, go to the web page.

Scottish Country Dancing
Scottish Country Dancing will meet through the holidays without any break on Tuesdays, Dec. 19, 26, and Jan. 2, at Kuhn Barn. Instruction begins at 7:30 p.m. and newcomers are always welcome. Most dances are fully taught and walked through, and you do not need to come with a partner. Info at 630-840-8194 or 630-584-0825 or folkdance@fnal.gov.

International Folk Dancing
International Folk Dancing will meet through the holidays without any break on Thursdays, December 21, 28, and Jan. 4 at Kuhn Barn. Dancing begins at 7:30 p.m. with teaching and children's dances earlier in the evening and request dancing later on. Newcomers are welcome and you do not need to come with a partner. Info at 630-584-0825 or 630-840-8194 or folkdance@fnal.gov.

English country dancing
English country dancing will continue on its current schedule of meeting the first Sunday afternoon of the month and will take place next on Sunday, January 7, at 2 p.m. Newcomers are welcome and you do not need to come with a partner. Please contact folkdance@fnal.gov or call 630-584-0825 or 630-840-8194.

Fermilab Flu shots
The Fermilab Medical Office is offering free flu shots. You are eligible to receive the free flu vaccine if you are an active, full-time regular employee or term and temporary employee. The following groups are not eligible: contractors, family members of employees, visitors/experimenters, seasonal employees, dayworkers and retirees. Please call Medical at x3232 to schedule a date and time.

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