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Minutes
NHMFL USERS' COMMITTEE
MAY 19-21, 1994
LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY
The Users' Committee of the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory met at the NHMFL Pulsed Magnetic Field Facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory on May 19-21, 1994.
Users' Committee members present were D. Awschalom, G. Boebinger, J. Brooks, E. Jones, M. Maley, M. Naughton and S. Tozer. Users' Committee members absent were B. McCombe and H. Stormer.
A preliminary report was written and presented to the NHMFL Executive Committee at the end of the Users' meeting at LANL. This report is reprinted below.
Preliminary Report:
PRIORITIES
The priorities the committee assigned to several magnet development
projects for the present contract period are based on the core requirements
of the original NSF charge . They are:
1. the first two of the three 27-T resistive magnets: completely
operational on time as per the present schedule and with proven
reliability;
2. equal priority is given to two projects: the 21-T (900 MHz) NMR
magnet, and the 45-T hybrid magnet;
3. the 60-T "long pulse" motor-generator magnet.
4. the third 27-T (30-T) resistive magnet.
The Committee felt that the additional magnet design possibilities
suggested at the meeting (specifically, the 2-power supply, 25T, 50 mm bore
magnet, the 4-power supply, 24 (32) MW, 20 (40) T, 200 (32) mm magnet)
should be delayed until ALL four of the above are successfully on line.
In addition, the situation with the hybrid insert concerns us. There are problems involved with the present joint development of this very complex magnet. We suggest the NHMFL assume complete responsibility for the design and manufacture of the insert. While we understand that this could lead to, among other unpleasantries, additional delays in the final start- up of the hybrid magnet, we feel that having complete in-house control at NHMFL would lead to a more reliable and less costly hybrid magnet in the end. We realize further that this action would impact on the timing of item number (2) in the priorities above, and would warrant an acceleration of the NHMFL in-house resistive insert program.
SUPPORT STAFF AND FACILITIES
NHMFL @ FSU: reasonable plan in place for Scholar/Scientist program, but
we urge the Laboratory to aggressively fill the 4-6 available positions.
NHMFL @ UF: no vehicle in place for "user" aspect. Who will make this
available as a user facility? What is the time scale?
NHMFL @ LANL: serious deficiency in terms of supporting present staff. In
our estimation, in spite of the herculean efforts of the highly competent
and strongly motivated individuals there, the present situation compromises
experiments by outside users of the pulsed field and superconducting magnet
facilities at LANL. The Committee has serious concerns about the
complementary level (or lack thereof) of support provided to the NHMFL @
LANL by the DOE.
Much discussion centered on the need for graduate student involvement at all three NHMFL sites, but especially at Los Alamos. We realize that there may be programmatic difficulties with bringing in graduate students, but a solution should be sought, on both the short term and in the upcoming 5-year plan. At a minimum, travel and lodging for extended stays should be provided.
Other items deemed important include the need for a quiet sample preparation room, with microscope, ultrasonic cleaner, evaporation/sputter system, solvents, light source, etc.
THE NEXT FIVE YEARS
The Committee feels that it needs more time to reflect on the outline
presented at this meeting.
ADDITION OF NEW USERS' COMMITTEE MEMBERS
It was proposed that the Users' Committee expand in number to include
individuals in the various resonance fields (NMR, ICR, ESR, ...). The
Committee suggests that three new members be sought from these areas. The
initial appointments will be one person each for 1 year, 2 year and 3 year
terms. Subsequent appointments will be for 3-year terms, as per the rest
of the Committee. The NHMFL will solicit the magnetic resonance community
for nominations, etc.
WORKSHOPS IN NEW EMERGING AREAS
There was discussion on the potential use of the NHMFL by materials
processing researchers (which could include physicists, chemists, materials
scientist, biologists). This could include crystal growth, magnetic
alignment, electrochemistry, catalysis, etc. Some of this was covered in
the NAS and the Seitz-Richardson reports. Perhaps a workshop should be
organized at the NHMFL aroundthis theme, to determine the extent of
interest in such endeavors.
OTHER
We applaud the emerging collaboration between the NHMFL and LANSCE of
combining pulsed neutron diffraction with pulsed magnetic fields. This is
an exciting possibility for future research opportunities, and we look
forward to its success.
The Committee brought up the fact that the concept of magnetic flux
concentration has not been sufficiently addressed. This technique could
easily become a routine component of nearly all magnet systems, adding at
least 3 T, and perhaps twice that, at negligible cost.
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