 Mon Jul 22 09:44:21 2019, Jon, Lab Infrastructure, Computing, Installed Amplifying VGA Splitter 
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The VGA signal outputted by the multiplexer is too weak to drive two monitors. This has required video cables to be manually switched back and forth
between the monitor mounted above the laser table and the desktop console.
Today I solved this problem by installing an amplifying (active) VGA splitter on the video output of the multiplexer. One output of the |
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Mon Jul 22 18:46:23 2019, Edita Bytyqi, Lab Infrastructure, , Laser-Lens-HWS Setup
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Today, I set up a system consisting of the 520 nm laser, a 2'' mirror and two lenses of focal lengths f1 = 40 cm and f2 = 20 cm. The goal was
to collimate the beam coming from the laser, so it goes parallel through the test optic at a radius of ~2.5 cm and then focus it to a radius of ~
1.2 cm to fit the CCD dimensions of the HWS. The mirror was placed about 1 cm close to the laser and the first lens is setup at a distance~f1=40cm from |
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Wed Jul 24 16:25:13 2019, Edita Bytyqi, Lab Infrastructure, Optics, Updated 2-lens setup
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The previous 2-lens setup focused the beam to a tight spot, however due to the divergence angle of the laser beam, a significant amount of power was
not being captured by the fiirst lens at a distance of 40 cm from the source. The divergence angle seems to be bigger than 0.06 by a factor of 2, so a
f = 20 cm lens was used to collimate the beam and a f = 30 cm lens was used to focus it. A mirror was used to reflect the beam, so we obtain steering control. |
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Mon Jul 22 18:44:53 2019, Edita Bytyqi, Things to Buy, General, Need to Order Gloves
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| Small/Medium size gloves need to be ordered in order to handle the optics carefully. |
 Thu Jul 25 09:13:36 2019, Jon, Things to Buy, General, Need to Order Gloves
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New gloves are ordered for the TCS and QIL labs. They arrive tomorrow (Friday).
Quote:
Small/Medium size gloves need to be ordered in order to handle the optics carefully. |
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Mon Jul 29 18:53:16 2019, Edita Bytyqi, Lab Infrastructure, Optics, Mounted Reflector and Heater
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Since we set up the 2-lens system focusing the laser beam to the CCD, the next step was to mount the spherical reflector (31 mm wide) and the heater
(~3 mm diameter). I used a small 3-axis stage to mount the heater, providing 3 degrees of freedom that would allow to manipulate the height of the heater,
its position with respect to the reflector (left-right and in-out). The reflector was mounted in such a way that we can control its rotation angle, height |
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Thu Aug 1 15:20:39 2019, Edita Bytyqi, Lab Infrastructure, Optics, Reflector Mount and DC Supply
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Yesterday, we were able to take some data using the 120 V DC power supply. The reflectors cut at the focal point and radius were both tested; the semi-circle
cut proved to give a better focus, likely because roughly half the heat is lost using the focal-point reflectors. For upcoming tests, the semicircle reflectors
will be used. We varied the surface shine by using the dull and reflective side of Al foil, as well as using the machined Al itself. The best result was |
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Tue Aug 6 19:22:28 2019, Jon, Electronics, Computing, QIL NFS server set up
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I've started building the NFS server for the QIL cymac. It's sitting on the workbench in the TCS lab next to the rack. Please don't move
it or any of the parts behind it. |
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Fri Aug 9 20:33:11 2019, Jon, Electronics, Ring Heater, Power-regulated heater ready to use
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Despite some considerable time spent, I was not able to get the Omega SCR controllers
working. The first unit definitely arrived damaged. None of its LED indicator lights ever functioned, despite those on the second controller
working fine under the same setup. I tried swapping in the second controller, but it has no voltage output and a red LED is illuminated which, according |
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Mon Aug 12 21:15:12 2019, Edita Bytyqi, Electronics, , Determining heater/reflector focus
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I took images of the heat pattern projected on a piece of paper produced by the semi-circle reflector. I used 108V to drive current throught he
heater. I tested the reflector without any coating and then with the dull and shiny sides of Al foil. I wasn't able to test the focal-point cut reflector
because I had to glue a screw to it with epoxy which cures overnight. I will do these measurements tomorrow. Figure 2 shows the setup I used to get |
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Fri Aug 16 17:05:14 2019, Edita Bytyqi, Electronics, , FLIR Images of new reflector focusing heat
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We got 11 new semi-circle cut reflectors of radius ~3.6 cm. I glued a screw to the back of one reflector using the same epoxy as for the previous reflectors.
Due to the bigger ROC of the reflector, a tight focus is achievable at greater distances (~15 cm). |
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Tue Sep 3 10:49:57 2019, Aidan, Lab Infrastructure, General, Exhaust duct added for new bake area in TCS lab
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Facilities came in on Friday and teed off a new duct to provide exhaust for the proposed new vacuum bake area in the TCS Lab. Photos are attached.
We installed a plastic sheet between the work area and the rest of the lab (the rest of the lab was overpressurized relative to the work area).
Also, they use a vacuum when doing any drilling. |
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Wed Oct 30 12:13:14 2019, Jon, Misc, Delivery Note, New lab hardware
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Ian and I moved some new hardware into the lab, shown in the below photos. It is from the shipment of loaned
equipment recently returned by Whitman College.
Attachment 1: |
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Tue Jun 15 08:47:27 2021, Aidan, Lab Infrastructure, General, Cleaned up HWS table in preparation for lab move
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I cleaned up the HWS table in preparation for replacement with the 4x10 table. We still need to move the cabinet and get the enclosure out of the way.
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Tue Jul 27 08:39:33 2021, Aidan, Misc, Flood, Tuesday (27-Jul) morning check - lab looks okay
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| I checked the lab this morning. It was dry and there wall was in the same state as yesterday. |
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Thu Aug 12 16:13:44 2021, Aidan, Lab Infrastructure, Flood, Carpentry shop removed wet plaster sections from the wall - it's drying for a few days
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The carpentry shop removed wet plaster sections from the wall following the flood (process was gentle scraping of wet plaster flakes, supervised
by me). The wet section of wall needs a few days to dry and then they will plaster and paint it.
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Mon Jul 26 16:23:03 2021, Aidan, Misc, Flood, Lab flooded from broken pipe leading to sump room
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Koji: QIL/TCS entrance flooding. Check your lab |
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Wed Aug 25 11:28:56 2021, Aidan, Misc, Flood, Lab flooded from broken pipe leading to sump room
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11:29AM - Lab has flooded again this morning. I'm calling PMA. Looks to be the same issue as before.
Quote:
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Thu Aug 26 09:00:39 2021, Aidan, Misc, Flood, Lab flooded from broken pipe leading to sump room
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Some photos of water and clean-up.
Summary: I came into the lab around 11:30AM and found water on the floor in the changing room outside QIL/TCS. Turns out the condesation overflow
pipe from the AC blew out again. This time near the ceiling. Water was on the floor but also had sprayed a little onto the tool chest and East optical |
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Wed Apr 27 11:41:53 2022, Aidan, Lab Infrastructure, General, Lab clean-up to get ready for PD testing in old TCS Lab
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We (Aidan, Koji, Radhika, Aaron) partially tidied up the TCS Lab. The front table is clean and ready to recieve PD tesitng optics, electronics and
vacuum hardware. We moved all electronics units (oscilloscopes, power supplies, etc) to the rack in the NE corner of the lab. The back table was partially
tidied up. We need to schedule cleaning of the remaining tables in the lab and also an inventory and disposal of obsolete equipment in all the cupboards. |
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Wed May 11 19:46:21 2022, Aidan, Radhika, Jordan, Lab Infrastructure, Vacuum chamber, Leak cleaning on IR labs vacuum chamber - suspects
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[Aidan, Jordan, Radhika]
Radhika and Jordan identified some particulates (hair and flecks of foil) on the O-ring on the IR labs dewer. Additionally, we saw a scratch
in the O-ring groove and a nick on the metal of the base of the dewer where it meets the O-ring. All were in the leaky vicinity previously identified by |
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Fri May 20 16:42:47 2022, Stephen, Things to Buy, Ordering, Up to Air valve for IR Labs Cryostat
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Purchased from Lesker, for venting of IR Labs Cryostat:
- P/N C35103000
(KF10 Valve for up-to-air) |
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Thu Jun 23 10:53:17 2022, JC, Lab Infrastructure, General, Seat For Photodiode Testing
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[JC, Chub, Radhika]
Chub and I ordered a few parts from McMaster in order build a handrail-like stopper to keep the dewar from falling over. We also cut off the
excess 8020 which was leaning over the table to fit. To hold down the support for the Dewar, Radhika and I decided to use C-clamps from the EE shop. |
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Fri Jul 8 07:06:41 2022, Jc, Misc, VAC, Dewar
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[Stephen, JC]
Stephen and I added a new valve to Dewar's vacuum system. This valve allows the flow of atmospheric pressure into the system. We added 3
components to the system which were the valve, an adapter, and a T-intersection. After added these components, we continued to pump down only the highlighted |
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Wed Jul 13 15:19:49 2022, JC, Electronics, General, Desktop Computer
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[JC]
The desktop computer is now running Debian Linux |
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Thu Jan 12 11:52:47 2023, Koji, Lab Infrastructure, General, How to move the large engine hoist through the narrow door
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How to move the large engine hoist through the narrow door
See http://nodus.ligo.caltech.edu:8080/Mariner/122 |
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Tue Feb 28 09:44:43 2023, Aidan, Lab Infrastructure, General, Added lighting and tidied West Desk
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I added LED stip lighting above the desk on the West wall. I also tidied that desk up (mostly in the drawers).
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Fri Mar 24 14:57:11 2023, JC, Lab Infrastructure, Floor work, Lab Preparation for floor work
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I prepared the East Side optical table on one half. The other half will be completely saran wrapped. The computer desk and Crackle chamber will next be
placed closer to the South east corner of the room. Next, I will temporarily move the Hi Cube station to another lab until the floor is finished (probably
DOPO).
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