Jun 8th - Jun 12th:
* stochastic cooling is back ON again (with limited power, may be repaired after Wednesday maintenance!).  Yellow gap cleaner should be turned off again in tape but watch the build-up of debunched beam since it's less efficient!
* transmission efficiency still just around 90% in yellow: 1.1e9 seems to be "safe", however, we should keep trying to inch this up again (in small steps, say 0.05e9 in average bunch intensity), please keep trying!
* decouple blue at store at the end of a store (Friday with 6x6 if possible), try to decouple blue at injection, propagate into the ramp
* keep using 103_fancyGap
note: WCM looks at bucket 331 at transition in both rings for now! All button BPM scope channels look at yellow (diff and sum).

planned incremental modifications:
(only one thing at the time)
- do a couple of stores with 103x103 NOT fancyGap (do first, see above)
(please do that at earliest convenience!)
- keep an eye on orbits, tunes and chromaticities on the ramp, adjust if reasonable (some done)

Jun 5th - Jun 8th:
* stochastic cooling is back ON again (with limited power, may be repaired after Wednesday maintenance!).  Yellow gap cleaner should be turned off again in tape but watch the build-up of debunched beam since it's less efficient!
* transmission efficiency still just around 90% in yellow: 1.1e9 seems to be "safe", however, we should keep trying to inch this up again (in small steps, say 0.05e9 in average bunch intensity), please keep trying!
* chromaticities adjusted some again on Jun 5th. Not yet tested
* keep using 103_fancyGap
note: WCM looks at bucket 331 at transition in both rings for now! All button BPM scope channels look at yellow (diff and sum).

planned incremental modifications:
(only one thing at the time)
- do a couple of stores with 103x103 NOT fancyGap (do first, see above)
(please do that at earliest convenience!)
- keep an eye on tunes and chromaticities on the ramp, adjust if reasonable (some done)

Jun 1st - Jun 5th:
* stochastic cooling is back ON again.  Yellow gap cleaner should be turned off again in tape.
* transmission efficiency improved some after adjusting chroms in yellow on May 31st. But it's still just around 90% in yellow: 1.1e9 seems to be "safe", however, we should keep trying to inch this up again (in small steps, say 0.05e9 in average bunch intensity)
* keep using 103_fancyGap
note: WCM looks at bucket 331 at transition in both rings for now!

planned incremental modifications:
(only one thing at the time)
- do a couple of stores with 103x103 NOT fancyGap (do first, see above)
- keep an eye on tunes and chromaticities on the ramp, adjust if reasonable (some done)


turn on yellow bucket-by-bucket gap cleaner only if there are bunched beam losses at turn on of SC OR if there's more than 5e9 accumulated with SC on:
- try "normal" gap cleaning as in the sequencer first
- if that doesn't do it do the following:
memorize the good tunes from the ARTUS app
open gap cleaner app
go to Gap Cleaning Panel, select "All Buckets" and "1Hz Event"
overwrite Start Bucket with 334 (default is 333)
click START
once it is started go to the ARTUS application and set the tunes back to the "good" values
keep app open, otherwise it will stop!
convince yourself that gap is clean (if there are no peaks in beam decay or PinDiodes or losses as you change buckets beam is NOT semi-bunched in gap!), it is enough to simply scan the gap ONCE,
(0Hz rate for pin diodes is only possible if diodes are busted, call Tony Curcio if that's the case)

May 30th:
* stochastic cooling is OFF until repair. Yellow gap cleaner needs to be turned back ON in the sequencer (just make sure it is) until further notice
* Vacuum in STAR and PHENIX recovered. There should be no more issues.
* Returning from APEX: if you suspect that collisions might not be optimized, do optimization at the beginning of the next store after APEX.
* bad transmission efficiency still persists even after vacuum recovery and development on Tuesday:  1.1e9 seems to be "safe", however, we should keep trying to inch this up again (in small steps, say 0.05e9 in average bunch intensity)
* keep using 103_fancyGap

planned incremental modifications:
(only one thing at the time)
- do a couple of stores with 103x103 NOT fancyGap (do first, see above)
- keep an eye on tunes and chromaticities on the ramp, adjust if reasonable


turn on yellow bucket-by-bucket gap cleaner only if there are bunched beam losses at turn on of SC OR if there's more than 5e9 accumulated with SC on:
- try "normal" gap cleaning as in the sequencer first
- if that doesn't do it do the following:
memorize the good tunes from the ARTUS app
open gap cleaner app
go to Gap Cleaning Panel, select "All Buckets" and "1Hz Event"
overwrite Start Bucket with 334 (default is 333)
click START
once it is started go to the ARTUS application and set the tunes back to the "good" values
keep app open, otherwise it will stop!
convince yourself that gap is clean (if there are no peaks in beam decay or PinDiodes or losses as you change buckets beam is NOT semi-bunched in gap!), it is enough to simply scan the gap ONCE,
(0Hz rate for pin diodes is only possible if diodes are busted, call Tony Curcio if that's the case)

May 25th:
PHENIX magnet configuration is (basically) to what it was before Monday. No more vacuum issues here.
STAR magnet has switched polarity:  vacuum is bad, seems to slowly recover with running, they will try to take data though collimation does not help
collisions might not be optimized, do optimization at the beginning of the next store after the Friday down time
bad transmission efficiency:  do not exceed 1.15e9 for the next few (say 2) stores in yellow, after that try pushing again (check vacuum)
increase yellow octupoles to -7

after IR6 vacuum recovered (IF it does ;)):
(assume that transmission efficiency recovered as well)
intensity: </= 1.2e9 (yellow), > 1.2e9 (blue), keep pushing blue (see below, don't push on a ramp where something was changed ;))
* keep using 103_fancyGap as standard
* do a few stores with 'normal' 103 pattern
* implement non lin. chrom. compensation/correction in yellow, Yun & Nikolay will take care of it and have my OK (if anything fails, abandon and do not try again).

planned incremental modifications:
(only one thing at the time)
- do a couple of stores with 103x103 NOT fancyGap (do first, see above)
- further increase octupole strength in yellow to -7
- find current intensity limit, try to increase yellow after octupole increase



May 23rd:
after maintenance, STAR and PHENIX will have a different magnet configuratio
- go back to ramp & injections stone as we had it Sunday/Monday night
- try to decouple and correct at injection, interpolate into the ramp, ramp with 6x6
- if ramp is OK, return to physics (see below)
- if ramp is not OK, try tune feedback (call Al, Craig)

after new magnet configuration is commissioned (-> May 28th):
intensity: </= 1.2e9 (yellow), > 1.2e9 (blue), keep pushing blue (see below, don't push on a ramp where something was changed ;))
keep using 103_fancyGap until further notice
stop using yellow gap cleaner (see below) only if stochastic cooling is on, should be skipped in up sequence

planned incremental modifications:
(only one thing at the time)
- do a couple of stores with 103x103 NOT fancyGap (do first)
- further increase octupole strength in yellow to -7
- reduce yellow accelerating cavity voltage after transition (1st step done, 2nd step done on May 18th, should be finished by now)
- find current intensity limit, try to increase yellow after octupole increase
- retry 111x111 (done)

turn on yellow gap cleaner only if there are bunched beam losses at turn on of SC OR if there's more than 5e9 accumulated:
- try "normal" gap cleaning as in the sequencer first
- if that doesn't do it do the following:
memorize the good tunes from the ARTUS app
open gap cleaner app
go to Gap Cleaning Panel, select "All Buckets" and "1Hz Event"
overwrite Start Bucket with 334 (default is 333)
click START
once it is started go to the ARTUS application and set the tunes back to the "good" values
keep app open, otherwise it will stop!
convince yourself that gap is clean (if there are no peaks in beam decay or PinDiodes or losses as you change buckets beam is NOT semi-bunched in gap!), it is enough to simply scan the gap ONCE

May 22nd:
PHENIX magnet in ++ configuration: intensities: < 1.1e9 (both), until APEX begins

May 18th - May 22nd:

intensities: < 1.2e9 (yellow), > 1.2e9 (blue), keep pushing blue (see below, don't push on a ramp where something was changed ;))
keep using 103_fancyGap until further notice
stochastic cooling is used on every store from now on (is part of the up sequence as of May 16th)
IR2 and IR10 are not steered for collisions for now!
stop using yellow gap cleaner (see below), skip in up sequence

planned improvements (incremental steps!):
(only one thing at the time)
- further increase octupole strength in yellow to -7
- reduce yellow accelerating cavity voltage after transition (1st step done, 2nd step done on May 18th)
- other RF changes to aid reliability of rebucketing (to avoid debunching) -> no definite plans yet
- find current intensity limit, try to increase yellow after octupole increase
- retry 111x111

turn on yellow gap cleaner only if there are bunched beam losses at turn of SC OR if there's more than 5e9 accumulated:
- try "normal" gap cleaning as in the sequencer first
- if that doesn't do it do the following:
memorize the good tunes from the ARTUS app
open gap cleaner app
go to Gap Cleaning Panel, select "All Buckets" and "1Hz Event"
overwrite Start Bucket with 334 (default is 333)
click START
once it is started go to the ARTUS application and set the tunes back to the "good" values
keep app open, otherwise it will stop!
once gap is cleaned, go back to normal cleaning mode by running the sequence

May 14th - May 21st:

intensities: 1.1e9 - 1.2e9, keep pushing (see below, don't push on a ramp where something was changed ;))
keep using 103_fancyGap until further notice
stochastic cooling is used on every store from now on (is part of the up sequence as of May 16th)
IR2 and IR10 are not steered for collisions for now!

planned improvements (incremental steps!):
(only one thing at the time on a give ramp!)
- increase octupole strength in blue by the same amount as yellow was done last Sunday, do on the 2nd store after maintenance (done)
- change gammaT jump timing in yellow (still in progress, check with CM)
- possibly further increase octupole strength in yellow (check with me)
- reduce yellow accelerating cavity voltage after transition (1st step done, check with Brennan if he has more plans)
- other RF changes to aid reliability of rebucketing (to avoid debunching) -> no definite plans yet
- find current intensity limit, retry 111x111

turn on yellow bucket by bucket cleaning only if there are bunched beam losses at turn of of SC OR if there's more than 5e9 accumulated:
memorize the good tunes from the ARTUS app
open gap cleaner app
go to Gap Cleaning Panel, select "All Buckets" and "1Hz Event"
overwrite Start Bucket with 334 (default is 333)
click START
once it is started go to the ARTUS application and set the tunes back to the "good" values
keep app open, otherwise it will stop!
once gap is cleaned, go back to normal cleaning mode by running the sequence

deliver physics stores, stick to 5 hours store length (until further notice)

May 9th - May 14th:

intensities: 1.1e9 - 1.2e9, keep pusing (see below, don't push on a ramp where something was changed ;))
keep using 103_fancyGap until further notice
use stochastic cooling on every store from now one (including 1st store after maintenance) if possible (not yet ready, May 13th!)

planned improvements (incremental steps!):
this order (only one thing at the time on a give ramp!), begin with 2nd ramp/store after maintenance
- increase octupole strength in blue by the same amount as yellow was done last Sunday, do on the 2nd store after maintenance (done)
- change gammaT jump timing in yellow (partially done)
- possibly further increase octupole strength in yellow (check with me)
- reduce yellow accelerating cavity voltage after transition (1st step done, check with Brennan if he has more plans)
- other RF changes to aid reliability of rebucketing (to avoid debunching) -> no definite plans yet
- find current intensity limit, retry 111x111

turn on yellow bucket by bucket cleaning after stochastic cooling is started:
memorize the good tunes from the ARTUS app
open gap cleaner app
go to Gap Cleaning Panel, select "All Buckets" and "1Hz Event"
overwrite Start Bucket with 334 (default is 333)
click START
once it is started go to the ARTUS application and set the tunes back to the "good" values
keep app open, otherwise it will stop!

deliver physics stores, stick to 5 hours store length (until further notice)

Thu May 3rd day - Tue May 8th day:

Trying the same new scheme for the yellow gammaT's as for blue (as of Tuesday) didn't work. At the end of the Thursday development we reverted to ramp 8669 in yellow. We cannot revert to any blue ramp before Tuesday but yellow can/could.
- keep providing physics stores
- the upper limit in total current is about 10% less in yellow than in blue
- the upper limit in total current seems to deteriorate with time: not clear if its vacuum related
- try (once or twice) a different pattern (103 or 98) while trying to maintain the same or only slightly less total current, i.e. we would still gain if we used 10% less bunches but had 5% more current/bunch

Weekend Fri Apr 27 - Tue May 1 day
- keep doing physics stores with 111x111, stay with no more than 1.1e9 (max!)
- with this limit it should be possible to do orbit corrections w/o losing the ramp
- keep Landau cavities off until further notice
- keep running physics until Tuesday morning
- tentative plan for Tuesday is *some* short development period

Wed, Apr 25, after maintenance - Thu Apr 26, night
- recover from maintenance, reestablish beam in RHIC
- though RF thinks they fixed the problem keep the landaus off for tonight, we'll test them tomorrow during the day
- keep delivering physics stores until the morning
- between 9-10 am tomorrow morning we will begin development mode (begin w. setting up BBQ for the ramp):

@ inj.: none
@ ramp:     
        - turn landaus back on  (John Butler, Peggy)
        - measure chrom on the ramp(?),  Al is coming in to help
        - any other ramp improvement
@ store:
        - RF 5kHz clock, RF continued from Tue if problem persists w. landaus (?) -> Brennan
        - bump closure/local coupling -> Vadim
        - orbit bump in IR10 -> Vadim
        - automated orbit correction -> Vadim,Todd
        - parallelize blue coll? -> Angelika
(some of those things could/should be done in parallel)
- resume physcis after 4pm (depending on when exactly we started in the morning)

Tue Apr 24 eve - Thu Apr 26 day
while not in APEX or maintenance, keep delivering stores with
- 111x111
- below 1.2e9/bunch
- landau cavities OFF
- 5 hours store length (until further notice)

Fri Apr 20 - Tue Apr 24 day
- keep providing physics stores
- store length should be 5 hours
- fill and ramp with 1.1e9 in both rings

Fri:
before the next ramp revert blue to the ramp with 94% transmission that we had 10 days ago
- ramp with full machine, if necessary adjust tunes at store for lifetime
- blue collimators might have to be readjusted (I copied the store stone as well, somehow blue background situation seems worse since a couple of days).
- run physics
(if all fails, go back to the not-so-great ramp from last night/this morning)

Tue Apr 17, day/eve, Wed Apr 18 owl, Wed Apr 18 eve, Thu Apr 19 owl
- run physics, 111x111, 5 h store length, 1-1.1e9/bunch
- keep making small adjustments, check chromY in yellow before transition, I believe it is too large (too negative), try increasing
- do another end of store Vernier scan in PHENIX if possible

Fri Apr 13 day - Tue Apr 17 9am:
keep running for physics
store length 6 h (exp. can vote)
111x111, 1e9 (if thing run smoothly, increase intensity to 1.1e9)
keep watching transmission on the ramp, make adjustments as needed
do a vernier scan or two at the end of stores

Development Thu Apr 12:

PHENIX access for their ZDCs
- after that 6h development:
- go back to the ramp at the end of Monday
- feedforward TF ramps in both rings
- do a tune scan at store, make store tunes closer to ramp tunes, do not cross
- make sure ramp and store stone work with high intensity

Wed after maintenance - Thu 9:00 am
- recover from maintenance
- hysteresis ramp
- 6x6 ramp, use the last ramp we had early Wed morning (replay in blue, no replay in yellow)
- check lifetime at store with 6 bunches
- fill with 93 and provide physics store
- keep providing physics stores, hold until 9am (at least)
- check backgrounds: may be yellow collimators have to be revisited, call Angelika if backgrounds are too high (S6, N6 should be less than ZDC collision rate)
   

Monday Apr 9 eve - Tuesday Apr 10 eve (8pm):
- use replay in both rings
- do one more 6x6 ramp to confirm replay
- increase bunch intensities (to 1.1e9) with 93x93
- increase number of bunches (in 2 steps) to 111
- keep delivering stores

weekend: Fri Apr 6 eve - Mon Apr 9 morning
keep running physics mode with moderate changes:
- make ramp adjustments from ramp to ramp (tunes, chroms etc.), keep changes small
- keep going up in number of bunches
- stay just below/at 1e9/bunch
- do orbit corrections at store BEFORE collimators go in (handled by tape)
- keep taking a fresh tune measurement (new sequence in RHIC/systems/ARTUS) at store, approx. 1x/hour
goal: reach 110 bunches by the end of the weekend

Monday morning: prepare high intensity bunches to inject into RHIC before 9am, we plan to work on high intensity ramp development

Thu Apr 5 - Fri Apr 6
  Let's keep running physics mode with moderate changes:
- make ramp adjustments from ramp to ramp (tunes, chroms etc.), keep changes small
- keep going up in number of bunches
- stay just below 1e9/bunch
- implement non-linear chromaticity correction in blue/make operational
- look at background optimization at store (Angelika)
- test the injection damper (before next store)
- do orbit corrections at store
- collimate after that
- keep taking a fresh tune measurement (new sequence in RHIC/systems/ARTUS) at store, approx. 1x/hour or 30 minutes

Wed Apr 4 - Thu Apr 5
- recover from "enforced" QLI (current regulator card swap)
- do 6x6 ramp(s), proof that main dipole currents are back on track (-> confirm with Carl!)
- prepare for physics (>90% transmission and 6%>lifetime at store)
- do best corrector orbit correction at store
- collimate AFTER orbit correction

Tue Apr 3 - Wed Apr 4
If there's any chance for a store tonight be moderate.
Try 74x74. Do not go above 1e9/bunch. Use collimators as they are (goTo) AFTER orbit corrections.

Mon-Tue Apr 2 - Apr 3:
keep running physics until the late morning of Tuesday. Make moderate changes to the ramp to increase transmission efficiency. Check with plotfill if chromaticities should be adjusted (lower chromY in yellow after transition more?). Try 79x79 on the next fill. Do not go above 1e9/bunch. Use collimators as they are (goTo).

Fri Mar 30 eve, Saturday Mar 31 owl - Mon Apr 2 owl:
we are using Au72 now
b12-q89 is still the "old" unipolar PS w. two AC units added, it will not be swapped before Sat, maybe later
Fri eve:
prepare for physics once we are back from swapping PS, and quench recovery testing
as soon as we are done with ~90% transmission or above and decent lifetime at store:
deliver stores, 4 h length, >/= 61x61, make sure there are collisions in IR2 as well
at store:
gap cleaner: make sure that the gap cleaner is using a "good" set tune (check using the ARTUS application, can be changed from there as well)
    - have ARTUS app open when gap cleaner comes online, check if tune measurement was good, if needed set tunes to reasonable values (i.e. the tunes that are in the machine at the end of the ramp)
    - the blue vert. kicks and yellow horizontal kicks are turned off for gap cleaning mode. If there's any problem, call me (433 1865)
do BEST CORRECTOR at store every time we get up there before collimators go in
collimators: use goTo in blue, use "move closer" in yellow (if need be: call me to set up yellow collimators again)
weekend + Monday:
keep delivering physics stores

Fri Mar 30 2007:

day/eve (Thu)
develop ramp Au72 (6x6)
    - if changes are minor tweak stones in rampEditor
    - changes are major, redo TF ramp, call Al DellaPenna/Pete for BBQ assistance
(yellow has NOT changed in Au72!)
as soon as we are done with ~90% transmission or above and decent lifetime at store:
deliver stores, 4 h length, >/= 61x61
keep increasing bunch number, try to stay above 0.85e9/bunch
at store:
gap cleaner: make sure that the gap cleaner is using a "good" set tune (check using the ARTUS application, can be changed from there as well)
    - have ARTUS app open when gap cleaner comes online, check if tune measurement was good, if needed set tunes to reasonable values (i.e. the tunes that are in the machine at the end of the ramp)
    - the blue vert. kicks and yellow horizontal kicks are turned off for gap cleaning mode. If there's any problem, call me (433 1865)
collisions in IR2: they were unsteered on Tuesday by +5mm vert. in blue, -5mm vert. in yellow, bring back to collisions by taking out separation bump. Blue had an orbit correction done so that might be already closer to 0 (!)

owl:
deliver physics stores or keep developping Au72 (depending on status)

day (Friday):
- do some RF noise studies (turn of 28 MHz, turn of clock): needs preparation time by RF group
- make automatic orbit corrections at store (w. best corrector) operational
- make non. lin. chromaticity operational
- prepare for collisions with >0.9e9 and >61

Thu Mar 29 2007:

eve/owl:
get back to physics mode after 6 pm
give RF ~1 hour at injection to check phasing again after maintenance, John Butler is oncall (and onsite)
1  6x6 ramp, at store check phasing of storage cavities (John Butler)
deliver stores, 4 h length, >/= 61x61
keep increasing bunch number, try to stay above 0.85e9/bunch

at store:
gap cleaner: make sure that the gap cleaner is using a "good" set tune (check using the ARTUS application, can be changed from there as well)
    - have ARTUS app open when gap cleaner comes online, check if tune measurement was good, if needed set tunes to reasonable values (i.e. the tunes that are in the machine at the end of the ramp)
    - the blue vert. kicks and yellow horizontal kicks are turned off for gap cleaning mode. If there's any problem, call me (433 1865)
collisions in IR2: they were unsteered on Tuesday by +5mm vert. in blue, -5mm vert. in yellow, bring back to collisions by taking out separation bump. Blue had an orbit correction done so that might be already closer to 0 (!)

day (Thursday):
- do some RF noise studies (turn of 28 MHz, turn of clock): needs preparation time by RF group
- make automatic orbit corrections at store (w. best corrector) operational
- make non. lin. chromaticity operational
- prepare for collisions with 0.9e9 and >61

Wed Mar 28 2007:

eve/owl:
get back to physics mode after 4 pm
use collimator GoTo positions #1
deliver stores, 4 h length, >/= 56x56
keep increasing bunch number, try to stay above 0.85e9/bunch

WEDNESDAY is MAINTENANCE day, evening shifter should be available to help with setup for physics, over night: physics

day (Thursday):
- do some RF noise studies (turn of 28 MHz, turn of clock): needs preparation time by RF group
- make gapcleaner configuration automatic/operational
- make automatic orbit corrections at store (w. best corrector) operational
- make non. lin. chromaticity operational
- prepare for collisions with 0.9e9 and >56

Tue Mar 27 2007:

owl:
deliver stores, 6 h length, >/= 51x51
day:
- do some RF noise studies (turn of 28 MHz, turn of clock): needs preparation time by RF group
- revisit collimators
- prepare for collisions with 0.9e9 and >48

Mon Mar 26 2007:

- address RF issues during the day
- scrub with as many bunches as possible
- do some RF noise studies (turn of 28 MHz, turn of clock): needs preparation time by RF group
- allow access at 1pm for PHENIX, IR4 fire alarms, X4 IQ modulator
- prepare for collisions with 0.9e9 and 48
- revisit collimators

Sun Mar 25 2007:

auto-cogging should be fixed, rebucketing is in good shape. make sure that
- transmission is above 90% in both rings
- lifetime at store w. rebucketed beams is better than 6%/h

then
- provide collisions (coll. stdby, gap cleaner + rebucketing should be in the sequencer)
- provide stores with 37 first, then go up to 48x48 (with or w/o rebucketing, see above)
- watch 1st two buckets with gap cleaner on, make sure last bucket (331) is not affected

provide collision asap
allow collimator setup changes if needed

Sat Mar 24 2007:

use collimation preset positions #1 (in GoTo tab)
- make sure to rebucket within 100 s from reaching flattop, abandon rebucketing if auto-cogg keeps failing and manual adjustments take too long
- fix lifetime at store w. rebucketed beams
- provide collisions (coll. stdby, gap cleaner + rebucketing should be in the sequencer)
- provide stores with 48x48 (with or w/o rebucketing, see above)
- watch 1st two buckets with gap cleaner on, make sure last bucket (331) is not affected

provide overnight collision by midnight
allow collimator setup changes if needed

comment: again didn't happen, this time we had PS issues

Fri Mar 23 2007:

use collimation preset positions #1 (in GoTo tab)
- spend day on rebucketing, longitudinal emittance, RF issues (timing shift), make gaps collide in PHENIX
- fix lifetime at store if needed (chromaticity ...)
- go back to providing collisions (coll. stdby, gap cleaner + rebucketing should be in the sequencer)
- provide stores with at least 48x48
- watch 1st two buckets with gap cleaner on, make sure last bucket (331) is not affected

provide overnight collision by midnight, keep providing stores Saturday
allow exp. accesses, allow stochastic cooling end-of-store activities on demand
allow collimator setup changes if needed

Thu Mar 22 2007:

use collimation preset positions #1 (in GoTo tab)

- ramp
    keep working on improving transition and transmission efficiency (6x6)
    rebucket
    inject/ramp high intensity bunches (6x6 with 1.2e9)
    if need be try another yellow TF ramp

- store
    check model based corrections of non linear chromaticity again (6x6)
    maintain good lifetime at store 

provide overnight collision by midnight

Wed Mar 21 2007:

during the day: fix collimator setup issues (pin diodes)

- ramp
    keep working on improving transition and transmission efficiency (6x6)
    inject/ramp high intensity bunches (6x6 with 1.2e9)

- store
    check linear chromaticity setting: measure, change by +/- 2 units, remeasure
    check model based corrections of non linear chromaticity again (6x6)
    adjust BBQ gains (any store)
    setup collimators again (37x37)
   
provide overnight collision before midnight

at injection:
calibrate IPMs, check with Rob/Roger if IPMs are operational
check out Pin diodes any time with beam
   

Tue Mar 20 2007:

blue chromY settings around transition: increase by +1 units before and after transition (check entry yesterday around noon which stones), keep jump size
- do a 6 ramp in blue
- measure chromaticity along the ramp (turn wiggles on)
- keep ARTUS on
- if there are no measurements from ARTUS at store call me
- let RF do their rebucketing fine-tuning
- Yun/Nikolay can spend some time for chromaticity/b2 measurements at store
- do adjustments to the ramp if needed (chromaticity)

- do a 37 ramp in blue (if yellow is back by then do a 37 x 6 ramp)
- if yellow: measure chromaticity along the ramp
- call me once you have 37 blue bunches at store with "normal" lifetime (beam decay 2-4%) to setup blue collimators/gap cleanerInjection:
(see below "other")
ramp:
use rePlay in Blue and OFF in yellow (yellow was reverted to ramp 8300). Transmission was 93% for last ramp (6x6 only) but worse (80% or below) in ramps before.
(keep working on chromaticity - if BBQ is available we should turn the wiggles on again)
if we have a decent ramp and BBQ available we should try another TF ramp in yellow for rePlay
store setup:
collimators setup
gap cleaner setup
at the end of store give it to RF to fine-tune rebucketing procedure
6x6 store only: do or continue linear/non linear chromaticity measurements (call Yun,Nikolay) if opportunity arises
collisions:
provide colliding beams for experiments over night
other:
IR6/8 quad BBA data in yellow
* pressure
inject as many bunches as possible
increase bunch intensity (if available) to max.
watch pressure
do it in both rings (this is being done right now, Tue 20)
* calibrate IPMs, blue vertical and both horizontals are still missing. Use 0.3 mm steps in horizontal plane, 0.6 mm steps in vertical
* bb-wires (ask Wolfram)

Mon Mar 19 2007:

Injection:
(see below "other")

ramp:
use rePlay in Blue and none in yellow (yellow was reverted to ramp 8300). Transmission was 93% or above in both rings.
(next ramp: watch for changes in transmission: BV chrom after transition were lowered)
check yellow horizontal average orbit during ramp (Vadim)

store setup:
phasing in of storage cavities is already finished
repeat rebucketing procedure with 6x6 first and then with more bunches (36)
do or continue linear/non linear chromaticity measurements (call Yun,Nikolay) if opportunity arises
establish collisions
start setting up collimators  (at least for PHENIX purposes)
start gap-cleaner (tape-sequence)

other:
IR6/8 quad BBA data in yellow
* pressure
inject as many bunches as possible
increase bunch intensity (if available) to max.
watch pressure
do it in both rings
* calibrate IPMs, blue vertical and both horizontals are still missing. Use 0.3 mm steps in horizontal plane, 0.6 mm steps in vertical
* bb-wires (ask Wolfram)

Sat/Sun Mar 17&18 2007:

Injection:
(see below "other")
ramp:
fix transmission in both rings (before increasing intensity): make sure that BBQ kicker gains are adjusted and ARTUS is off to judge!
do AFTER RF work is finished: slowly increase intensity/bunch number, watch for problems (coherence, losses, emittance ...)
-- another TF ramp is attempted Sunday morning (blue is still replaying 8267, yellow 8311), give about 2 h for this activity, if not successful at noon, call RF then, if successful use for rePlay and call in RF now.
store setup:
optimize lifetime before RF starts its work (separation bumps in all IRs but IR6 and 8 should be re-installed  - check this happened))
do linear/non linear chromaticity measurements (call Yun,Nikolay)
before rebucketing RF wants a dry-run: ramp to store, dump beam and let them do their gymnastics (only if John Butler is around)
RF work on storage cavities/rebucketing at store (can be done with one beam only), call in John Butler (this should take a couple of hours)
after RF work is done and we have more than 6x6 bunches at store, set-up for collisions (cogg etc.)
if idle time at store is available (even in one ring at the time): do collimator setup, start gap-cleaner (Angelika), collimator setup needs decent intensity, gap-cleaner need about 1 10^9 bunch intensity.
other:
IR6/8 quad BBA data in yellow
* pressure
inject as many bunches as possible
increase bunch intensity (if available) to max.
watch pressure
do it in both rings
* calibrate IPMs, blue vertical and both horizontals are still missing. Use 0.3 mm steps in horizontal plane, 0.6 mm steps in vertical
* schottky
comp. schottky tunes vs. other as function of bunch intensity (call Kevin B.)
* bb-wires (ask Wolfram)

comment: RF work got pushed into Monday day because of some downtime and reoccuring problems with the yellow ramp/transition. Intensity seems already maxed out at about 0.9 10^9, number of bunches got increased up to 36

Fri Mar 16 2007

Injection:
IR6/8 quad BBA data in yellow
(see below "other")

ramp:
check with 1002-team how long they estimate it would take them to do another TF ramp. If it's OK, then:
- feedforward 8267 into Blue and ramp (no other changes!), ramp at least one more time with this after feed-forward and compare with last ramp in day shift
- after that try to get a new TF ramp in blue, replay after it was successfull
measure yellow chromaticity on the ramp
do/check orbit corrections on the ramp (especially yellow, it had an RMS of 3.5 in vert at store!)
work on BBQ on the yellow ramp, work towards a yellow TF ramp, replay once you have had a successful one (Al and Craig are around until 8pm, Pete comes in after 8pm, Al is available after 8pm)
gently increase intensity/bunch number somewhat, watch for problems (coherence, losses, emittance ...)

store setup:
optimize lifetime
separation bumps in all IRs but IR6 and 8 should be re-installed
do linear/non linear chromaticity measurements (call Yun,Nikolay)
before rebucketing, RF want's a dry-run: ramp to store, dump beam and let them do their gymnastics (only if John Butler is around)
RF needs time to work on storage cavities/rebucketing at store (can be done with one beam only), begin sooner rather than later, call in John Butler (this should take a couple of hours)if
set-up for collisions (cogg etc.)
if idle time at store is available in one ring at the time: do collimator setup, start gap-cleaner (Angelika)

Thu Mar 15 2007
Injection:
optic measurements in blue and yellow
gammaT quad offsets done?
1 h for Yun to measure coupling phase in yellow

ramp:
confirm chromaticity is OK in blue (1 ramp)
do a FB ramp in Blue
if successful, test rampTuner (Ted) and rampPlayback (Al)
if rampPlayback works, abandon blue and move on to yellow ramp development
put in the separation bumps in yellow up to t200 before we continue with development

BBQ/TFB
work on yellow BBQ up the ramp, if possible do a TFB ramp in yellow (Al and Craig are around until 8pm)

store setup:
measure dispersion at store (both rings)
do linear/non linear chromaticity measurements (call Yun,Nikolay)
RF needs time to work on storage cavities/rebucketing at store (can be done with one beam only), begin sooner rather than later,
call in John Butler and Kevin or Tom (they're oncall, including nights)

other:
* pressure
inject as many bunches as possible
increase bunch intensity (if available) to max.
watch pressure
do it in both rings
* schottky
comp. schottky tunes vs. other as function of bunch intensity (call Kevin B.)

Wed Mar 14 2007
Injection work:
Yellow:
- rf loops
- verifying coupling phases (Yun)
Blue:
- gammat quad offsets (Jenn, Todd)

PHENIX magnet test (~1h) should be coordinated with the PS related access

Ramp work:
Blue:
- correct chromaticities along the ramp (measured data should be already logged)
- bend trim adjustment to minimize RF frequency error and radius excursion. Corresponding tune adjustments. (Vadim)
- continue improvement of the ramp efficiency
- get a TF ramp in blue
-test PlayBack (Al's "flightrecorder") if decent TF ramp is available
- if PlayBack is successful, keep using it
- continue TF/CF commissioning (yellow, blue should be done)

Yellow:
-start ramp development; orbit, tune adjustment along the ramp
- BBQ/TF setup

***
Morning of Mar 15:
* pressure
inject as many bunches as possible
increase bunch intensity (if available) to max.
watch pressure
do it in both rings
* schottky
comp. schottky tunes vs. other as function of bunch intensity (call Kevin B.)

@ injection: ORM measurements with idle beam (if any)
@ store: measure dispersion at store
    do linear/non linear chromaticity measurements (call Yun,Nikolay)

RF needs time to work on storage cavities/rebucketing at store (can be done with one beam only), begin sooner rather than later
Tue Mar 13 2007
Hardware status of BBQ is OK, Pete available after 8 pm.
Work on yellow capture during the day.
Time-in instrumentation: WCM, BPM, Artus, (IPM I guess not yet), damper ... call appropriate people once beam is bunched! Yellow:
- get the phases for the coupling loop (Yun)
- get the radial steering<-> BBQ phases for TF
- close the loop at injection
- get BBA data in yellow
- check sextupole polarity
- make sure 1st order chromaticity is still working in yellow @ injection
- check gammaT quads (Christoph has set them all to 2A)

While Blue is "idle":
- repeat chromaticity measurement with and w/o tune feedback at injection using the ramp-method  once the loop is tuned, John Cupolo and/or Ron Schroder are covering BBQ during the day.
- Yun could measure avg. b2 measurement at injection
- calibrate IPM channels: Rob, Roger
- after that, Wolfram can do some bb-wire tests

Pete available from around 8pm.
    - continue TF/CF commissioning
    - continue commission feedforward application (rampTuner): Ted, Al (there's a new version)  
Later (depends on discussions during the day, more details later)
- continue ramp development (Au70) with beam (blue only, 3-6 bunches), blue ramps with beam, yellow w/o but with magnets
    * radius shift after transition (will be addressed tomorrow)
    * ramp/efficiency, store liftime
    * try to decouple at store, propagate into ramp
    * at the same time work on rampTuner
    * test PlayBack (Al's "flightrecorder") if decent TF ramp is available
 
Mon Mar 12 2007
Excursion attempts should be stopped. Please check. Hardware status of BBQ at this point unknown. Assume that valves in IR2 are open.

Work on yellow injection 5pm-8pm:
    - establish 1st turn
    - time in inj. kicker (Wolfram)
    - establish circulating beam
    - improve beam lifetime, call RF for capture
Pete and Al should be available from around 8pm.
    - continue TF/CF commissioning
    - continue commission feedforward application (rampTuner): Ted, Al
    - repeat chromaticity measurement with and w/o tune feedback at injection using the ramp-method  once the loop is tuned (need BBQ)
- if we have time at injection (either ring):
    * calibrate IPM channels (Rob, Roger C)
    * commission beam-beam wires (Wolfram, only if machine is "idle")
    * measure average b2 at injection (Yun)
after 8 pm, few hours, until Vadim is done
- continue ramp development (Au70) with beam (blue only, 3-6 bunches), blue ramps with beam, yellow w/o but with magnets
    * radius shift after transition  (bend trims: call in Vadim)
    * at the same time work on rampTuner
Once Vadim is done: resume work with yellow at injection.
 
comment: we had problems with the end of the ramp (maybe Steve Ts changes?), wires were looked at and circulating beam in yellow was established. We continued ramping until 9am.
 
Sun Mar 11 2007
make sure that ARTUS is ON for the ramps if it doesn't have to be off for the FB. Make sure that the data makes it into ratview.
during the day:
call Jen/Todd/Ted to add dumping the readings from specMan into the log.
call Ted/Al to give them heads-up for feedforward application work tonight
call Vadim to address the radius after transmission later tonight
call Roger Lee to ask him for triggering the button scope (progress?) maybe not just around transition but also any stone (is that possible?)
talk to Don about the excursion attemps of several power supplies during the ramp (b6-q7, b8-q7)
chrom-wiggles end at flattop rather than store: can that be addressed in tape?

Pete should be available from around 6pm. There were several successful FB loops but the loops should still be tuned:
    - continue TF commissioning
    - FB loop needs tuning, call in Carl to tune
   
- if we have time at injection:
    * calibrate IPM channels (Rob, Roger C)
    * commission beam-beam wires (Wolfram, only if machine is "idle")
    * measure average b2 at injection (Yun)
    * take data for beam-based alignment (Todd should be available, call and check with him)

- repeat chromaticity measurement with and w/o tune feedback at injection using the ramp-method  once the loop is tuned

- continue ramp development (Au70) with beam (blue only, 3-6 bunches)
    * focus on FB loop tuning and feedforward application
    * last ramps orbit corrections were reverted since ramp failed, make sure its activated!
    * coherence around t40, bad lifetime at store, radius after transmission (Vadim)

comment: FB loop was tuned, feedforward application (rampTuner) half commissioned, BBA in blue done. Vadim got bumped one night.

Sat Mar 10 2007
BBQ is commissioned, Pete leaves around 1 pm and comes back at midnight. Al/John are in 1002 inbetween. Do ramp orbit correction manually.
    - continue TF commissioning
    - FB loop needs tuning (Pete? Carl?)
   
- if we have time at injection:
    * calibrate IPM channels (Rob, Roger C)
    * commission beam-beam wires (Wolfram)
    * measure average b2 at injection (Yun)
    * take data for beam-based alignment (since Todd was on shift last night, not before he got enough rest, i.e. late tonight)

- get chromaticity measurement with and w/o tune feedback at injection using the ramp-method, some data taken and it looked promising. Don't understand the jump by about 2 units in both planes, hould be repeated once the loop is tuned

- continue ramping (Au70) with beam (blue only, 6 bunches)
comment: only ramp work was done, several FB ramps were performed, feedforward manually. Beam got up to store but there are still lifetime issues and losses to tune out.

Fri Mar 9 2007
Beam is bunched and with good life-time. 2 ramps were done last night. The issus were addressed during the day. WCM should work, ARTUS should work (did work yesterday), events should be sent out. Please use ARTUS and dump pictures in the log to confirm.
    - continue BBQ and TF commissioning
        * repeat to set the phases for coupling (call Yun) (BBQ wasn't trustworthy yesterday)
        * tests to close loops at injection (~ 2h, Yun)
- if we have time at injection:
    * calibrate IPM channels (Rob, Roger C)
    * commission beam-beam wires (Wolfram)
    * measure average b2 at injection (Yun)
    * take data for beam-based alignment (Jennifer, Todd)
- get chromaticity measurement with and w/o tune feedback at injection using the ramp-method (Pete)
    * test tape-sequence to turn wiggles on at injection
    * get radial steering <-> BBQ phase (Pete)
    * close loops at injection
    * do measurements
- continue ramping (Au70) with beam (blue only, 6 bunches), we should have an improved ramp

Thu, Mar 8 2007:
eve Mar 8 and owl/day Mar 9:

check magnet currents/hysteresis ramp, make sure we are at the right energy
re-establish:
    - injection, first turn
    - circulating beam
    - AGS to RHIC synchro (sweep frev?)
    - bunched beam
    - re-establish beam with 'good' tunes, chromaticities etc.
    - continue BBQ and TF commissioning
        * set the phases for coupling (call Yun)
        * tests to close loops at injection (~ 2h, Yun)
    - most  sextupole polarities are checked (they were OK).  get data for checking bo6-sxf12
- if we have time at injection:
    * calibrate IPM channels (Rob, Roger C)
    * commission beam-beam wires (Wolfram)
    * measure average b2 at injection (Yun)
    * take data for beam-based alignment (Jennifer, Todd)
- get chromaticity measurement with and w/o tune feedback at injection using the ramp-method (Pete)
    * test tape-sequence to turn wiggles on at injection
    * get radial steering <-> BBQ phase (Pete)
    * close loops at injection
    * do measurements
- take data with transition monitor scope (-> call Roger)
- prepare for ramping (Au70) with beam (blue only)

comment: we tried 2 ramps, several problems with evens/tape found. BBQ is not yet operational.

Fri Feb. 23 2007:
Bunched beam is available. Cavity voltage should be increased to Au4 values to avoid debunching. Since we made good progress with instrumentation we'll try to get ready for ramping (provided our ramp Au70 gets George's approval!).

- RF (Tom & Kevin) will close the feedback loops to enable ramping, they get the 1st 3 hours or so (call them if beam is late for whatever reason)

- instrumentation setup continues as needed to be completed
    * ARTUS: a new application with the default range 0-0.5 was released today
    * check chromaticity application for tune range, call SteveT if needed
    * IPM: finish setup, do channel to channel calibration with beam (Rob, Roger)

- chromaticity measurements/comparisons, model & orbit corrections
    * Vadim and Nicolai compare and measure the different b2 tables
    * check averageOrbit, get dispersion data
    * putting in the new separation bumps
    * test tune feeddown version of orbit display (-> Vadim only)

- BBQ setup continues, please call Pete at 298 9560 once we start injecting into RHIC

- sextupole polarity: I didn't hear from Yun, please call him to find out which ones to repeat
    * I suppose Vadim/Waldo could be Todd's designee tonight. Call Todd at 807 0674
    * only valuable if BBQ could be improved

- check gamma-t polarity (needs BBQ, contact Christoph for details)
    *  change strength by k=0.00080 -> 0.00180

- begin ramping (6 bunches for loops), provided Au70 got approved and the loops were closed

Thu Feb. 22 2007:
beam got captured this morning :) i.e. we should have bunched beam available. the problem with the transfer tables seems (almost) fixed and we should be in business.

Begin with set-up/timing of instrumentation:
- BBQ (Pete) (decouple if needed)
-BPMs (Todd)
- WCM (Roger)
- ARTUS (Rob)
- others (IPM, Schottky,...)

Once BBQ is available:
- do a sextupole polarity check (Todd or designee)
- commission chromaticity measurement (with both, BBQ and ARTUS)
- after polarity check: measure/set chromaticity, make sure lin. chromaticy with the new model and sextupole configuration still works

* note that new/old (from Au4) b2 tables were loaded into the rampmanager, giving the same chromaticity offsets now as we had them in Au4 (well, pretty large ;)). In case of problems with that please call Steve T. and/or Nicolai (707 1811) * (if time allows we'll do a comparison of the two b2 tables tomorrow evening)

comment: we could do all and found some minor problems, we switched back to Au70

Wed Feb. 21 2007:
If time allows we could check-out the Y-arc with beam (given the special procedure is in place and valid) -- could probably done by an operator/Nick in parallel to RHIC blue work.

resume injecting into RHIC at 8pm.
make sure a hysteresis ramp with the new(/old) transfer tables was done.
in case of doubts or questions: ask Steve and Al, both should be in standby.

with the new injection setpoint repeat:
- injection, AtR-RHIC matching, 1st turn
- establish circulating beam
- correct orbits
- match AGS to RHIC (Bfield), note that Vadim changed the Bfield this morning!
- measure/set tunes, chromaticity
- check out coupling if necessary
- work on lifetime to prepare for capture in the morning

if done before/by 7am, call RF (Tom & Kevin), but not before 7am
note: there is a new RampEditor release (fixing "revert"). call Ted if there's a problem.

model: if you change the tunes and see the chromaticity change by n units (with n>>1 ;)) contact Nikolai at 707 1811.

stop by 9 am, hand over machine to RF if circulating beam with a decent lifetime (>15 min.) was establish (and the right energy! ;)).

RF capture should be done by about 11 am if they've beam available. this will be followed by an access for PS and experiments.

comment: all was done this night with 1-2 hours to waste before RF capture actually began.

Tue Feb. 20 2007:
hysteresis ramps should be available:
over night
- confirm/continue setup X- and Y-arc
- optimize AtR transmission
- work on circulating beam/lifetime, prepare for capture
    correct orbits
    mismatch (- 5 mm): try to compensate with AGS Bfield
    check/correct tunes/chromaticity/coupling (whatever can be done w/o bunched beam)
during the day:
provide beam for RF capture
comment: Pass kept us off again for a couple of hours. RF capture was abandoned, the energy/frequency of RHIC was too far off. RHIC field was found to be off by 1%, main quads off by some 0.2 % causing the tunes to be off by over 0.4 (wrong integer!). However, we established circulating beam with reasonable lifetime that in the end couldn't be used (see above)

Mon Feb. 19 2007:
Several hysteresis ramps were performed during the day by the PS crew. Blue PS are at injection current and we should have AGS to RHIC synchro. With that we can do the following:
- setup X- and Y-arc
- inject into RHIC, do 1st turn, check for obstacles etc.
- time in injection kicker (Wolfram)
- work on circulating beam/lifetime, prepare for capture
1st turn was established, AGS and RHIC look mismatched (-5 mm off), no obstacles, injection kickers timed in, BPMs triggered erraticaly, beam sync/synchro delays were instable => hardware problem (PLL box locked up) found next morning

Sun Feb. 18 2007:
RHIC blue magnets can be ramped up to injection current. Since we won't have AGS to RHIC synchro (RF will work on it tomorrow during the day) we won't have injection kickers and therefore at most 1 turn. Thus let's work on X- and Y-arc setup and 1st turn, checking for closed valves etc. -- didn't happen because of PASS problems and AGS low level RF problems that needed expert (i.e. Tom/Kevin) attention.