Dr. René Roy and his team from Laval University were elated this summer when, after over two years working with TRIUMF's HERACLES experiment, two isotopic beams of Neon-20 and 22 were delivered for his study of the symmetry term of the nuclear potential. This summer's experiment was a heroic tale of dedication and teamwork which was able to give René the final pieces to his research puzzle.
In order to understand extreme stellar environments such as that within a neutron star, isotope beams at high energies must be used to simulate that which we cannot experience directly. By varying the ratio of protons to neutrons, data about the behaviour of these environments can be tested against theories, confirming them or causing them to be refined. René's team initially used radioactive beams of Sodium-25 and stable beams of Magnesium-25 two years ago, though more data was needed in order to compare the results against the equation of state theories using so-called antisymmetrized molecular dynamics.
Preparations were made and beam time was granted for the team to use stable beams of Neon-20 and 22 at 11 MeV per nucleon to HERACLES, located in ISAC-II. However, when the control system and cryogenic module of TRIUMF's Superconducting Linear Accelerator malfunctioned just prior to the team's scheduled experiment, it seemed all was lost.
Due to an error in the accelerator control system, water was able to enter the cryogenics module that is important for accelerating the isotope beams to high energies, compromising its operation. TRIUMF Accelerator Division personnel stepped in over the July long weekend to save the project, fixing the control system and cleaning the entire accelerator at the last possible moment. Finally, beam was delivered to the experiment and the final pieces of data could be gathered after two years of experimentation and preparations. René was so overjoyed that he presented TRIUMF-ISAC High Energy Facility Coordinator Marco Marchetto with a congratulatory bottle of wine.
In the end, a successful experiment triumphed over its troubles through the hard work and collaboration of everyone involved. Best of luck to René and his team in their final analysis!
-Ariane Madden, TRIUMF Communications Assistant