Image courtesy of Reidar Hahn.

symmetry: Evolution of a Collider

by Elizabeth Clements

Designing the International Linear Collider is an evolutionary process. The ILC would be a next-generation machine that smashes together electrons and their opposites, positrons, to unlock some of the deepest mysteries about the universe. But aside from the new science, the ILC enters new territory in terms of planning and designing for the particle-physics community.

The Global Design Effort (GDE) for the ILC is an international team of physicists and engineers that continuously evaluates the project's ever-progressing design. The design team's goal is a machine that produces optimal physics with good value for money.

In December 2005, the GDE produced a Baseline Configuration Document. Intended to give the scientific community a first glimpse of what the ILC would look like, this baseline design outlined the physics parameters and overall schematic of the machine. The GDE completed this baseline document as a first attempt—a launching pad—to put down on paper a design that will continue to be refined. Read more...

Corrine Purcell

by Alison Drain

(Photo - Corrine Purcell runs the SLAC Walk & Run) It's rare to see a runner smile during a workout. But last Sunday, Corrine Purcell had something to grin about: completing her first marathon. Purcell, who has worked in SLAC's employment office for 10 years, feels a huge sense of accomplishment.

"I definitely think this was a great experience for me," she said. "I did something I never thought I'd do."

After she began running around the SLAC site years ago, she competed in shorter local runs before taking to triathlons. Last September, when her triathlon teammates urged her to join them in marathon training, Purcell reluctantly agreed.

"I never thought I could do a marathon," she said. "I always used to say that the human body wasn't made to run for 26 miles."

But her grueling 19-week training program prepared her well for the race. She and her friends ran five times every week, trekking longer routes on weekends to condition for Sunday's marathon in Napa.

"At first, all I could think about was, 'how am I ever going to do this 20-mile run?' But after training for a while, I began to think, 'That's it? We're done?'"

Still, a prepared Purcell admitted to feeling anxious the week before the race. "I was ready for it to be over with," she said. "Nineteen weeks is a long time to train—it's very hard on the body."

With the marathon behind her, she won't be resting long. Her race itinerary includes a 100-kilometer bike ride in April and multiple triathlons before the year's end. In the meantime, she can relish her latest achievement.

Live Screening
of ILC Symposium

SLAC will screen today's Fermilab Community Symposium on the International Linear Collider at 11:00 a.m. PST in Panofsky Auditorium. Learn more...

Save the Date: SLAC
to Host Financial Fair

by Kelen Tuttle

Stanford's Benefits Department has selected SLAC for a pilot program devoted to helping employees learn more about investing, finances and retirement. Plan to spend Saturday, March 24 at SLAC attending workshops and talking with representatives from Fidelity, Vanguard, TIAA-CREF, the Stanford Credit Union and the Benefits Department.

The day includes a keynote address by Keith Dorney on getting organized and prioritizing financial goals; workshops on tax planning, 403(b) retirement plan strategies, and mutual funds; and the opportunity to meet one-on-one with financial representatives. All employees and their spouses or partners are invited to attend.

"We encourage everyone to take advantage of this free opportunity to learn how they can reach their financial goals," said Benefits Communications Manager Robbie Brewster. "By attending 'Super Saturday–Day 1,' you can make the rest of your days more financially rewarding."

The full fair schedule and more information are available online.

Colloquium Today:
SESAME - Reality or
A Parallel Universe?

by Kelen Tuttle

About 19 miles northwest of Amman, Jordan, this building will house a new particle accelerator. Read more about SESAME in symmetry.

In this week's colloquium, Eliezer Rabinovici of the Racah Institute of Physics will discuss the Synchrotron-Light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East (SESAME). This synchrotron radiation facility, scheduled to begin operations in 2010, is a unique effort to nurture both high quality research and scientific collaboration in the Middle East.

At 4:15 p.m. today in Panofsky auditorium, Rabinovici will discuss how the project came about, where it is now and where it may be heading. Learn more...

Events (see all | submit)

March 7: (11:00 a.m.) ILC Symposium Live Screening
March 7: (1:00 p.m.) Remedy Service Desk 7.0 Demonstration
March 7: (1:30 p.m.) Integrated Circuits for Advanced Detectors
March 7: (4:15 p.m.) SLAC Colloquium: SESAME - Reality or a Parallel Universe?
March 8: (12:30 p.m.) Experimental Seminar: Early SUSY Searches at the LHC
March 8: (4:00 p.m.) Drell Lecture: The Wars on Three Fronts, Thom Shanker (on Campus)
March 8: (4:15 p.m.) George E. Smith: Using Seismology to Probe the Earth's Insides (on Campus)

Access (see all)

Announcements
(see all | submit)

Lab Announcements

Community Bulletin Board

News (see all | submit)

How To Understand X-Ray Lasers One Minute How-To (Audio)
Galaxy Survey Focuses On 'Pre-teen' Years Science Daily
Energy Security Lies in Promoting Alternative Fuels, Ex-CIA chief Says Stanford Report

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View online at http://today.slac.stanford.edu/.

Image courtesy of Reidar Hahn. symmetry: Evolution of a Collider by Elizabeth Clements Designing the International Linear Collider is an evolutionary process. The ILC would be a next-generation machine that smashes together electrons and their opposites, positrons, to unlock some of the deepest mysteries about the universe. But aside from the new science, the ILC enters new territory in terms of planning and designing for the particle-physics community. The Global Design Effort (GDE) for the ILC is an international team of physicists and engineers that continuously evaluates the project's ever-progressing design. The design team's goal is a machine that produces optimal physics with good value for money. In December 2005, the GDE produced a Baseline Configuration Document. Intended to give the scientific community a first glimpse of what the ILC would look like, this baseline design outlined the physics parameters and overall schematic of the machine. The GDE completed this baseline document as a first attempt—a launching pad—to put down on paper a design that will continue to be refined. Read more...

Corrine Purcell by Alison Drain It's rare to see a runner smile during a workout. But last Sunday, Corrine Purcell had something to grin about: completing her first marathon. Purcell, who has worked in SLAC's employment office for 10 years, feels a huge sense of accomplishment. "I definitely think this was a great experience for me," she said. "I did something I never thought I'd do." After she began running around the SLAC site years ago, she competed in shorter local runs before taking to triathlons. Last September, when her triathlon teammates urged her to join them in marathon training, Purcell reluctantly agreed. "I never thought I could do a marathon," she said. "I always used to say that the human body wasn't made to run for 26 miles." But her grueling 19-week training program prepared her well for the race. She and her friends ran five times every week, trekking longer routes on weekends to condition for Sunday's marathon in Napa. "At first, all I could think about was, 'how am I ever going to do this 20-mile run?' But after training for a while, I began to think, 'That's it? We're done?'" Still, a prepared Purcell admitted to feeling anxious the week before the race. "I was ready for it to be over with," she said. "Nineteen weeks is a long time to train—it's very hard on the body." With the marathon behind her, she won't be resting long. Her race itinerary includes a 100-kilometer bike ride in April and multiple triathlons before the year's end. In the meantime, she can relish her latest achievement. Live Screening of ILC Symposium SLAC will screen today's Fermilab Community Symposium on the International Linear Collider at 11:00 a.m. PST in Panofsky Auditorium. Learn more...	Save the Date: SLAC to Host Financial Fair by Kelen Tuttle Stanford's Benefits Department has selected SLAC for a pilot program devoted to helping employees learn more about investing, finances and retirement. Plan to spend Saturday, March 24 at SLAC attending workshops and talking with representatives from Fidelity, Vanguard, TIAA-CREF, the Stanford Credit Union and the Benefits Department. The day includes a keynote address by Keith Dorney on getting organized and prioritizing financial goals; workshops on tax planning, 403(b) retirement plan strategies, and mutual funds; and the opportunity to meet one-on-one with financial representatives. All employees and their spouses or partners are invited to attend. "We encourage everyone to take advantage of this free opportunity to learn how they can reach their financial goals," said Benefits Communications Manager Robbie Brewster. "By attending 'Super Saturday–Day 1,' you can make the rest of your days more financially rewarding." The full fair schedule and more information are available online. Colloquium Today: SESAME - Reality or A Parallel Universe? by Kelen Tuttle About 19 miles northwest of Amman, Jordan, this building will house a new particle accelerator. Read more about SESAME in symmetry. In this week's colloquium, Eliezer Rabinovici of the Racah Institute of Physics will discuss the Synchrotron-Light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East (SESAME). This synchrotron radiation facility, scheduled to begin operations in 2010, is a unique effort to nurture both high quality research and scientific collaboration in the Middle East. At 4:15 p.m. today in Panofsky auditorium, Rabinovici will discuss how the project came about, where it is now and where it may be heading. Learn more...	Events (see all \| submit) March 7: (11:00 a.m.) ILC Symposium Live Screening March 7: (1:00 p.m.) Remedy Service Desk 7.0 Demonstration March 7: (1:30 p.m.) Integrated Circuits for Advanced Detectors March 7: (4:15 p.m.) SLAC Colloquium: SESAME - Reality or a Parallel Universe? March 8: (12:30 p.m.) Experimental Seminar: Early SUSY Searches at the LHC March 8: (4:00 p.m.) Drell Lecture: The Wars on Three Fronts, Thom Shanker (on Campus) March 8: (4:15 p.m.) George E. Smith: Using Seismology to Probe the Earth's Insides (on Campus) Access (see all) South Gallery Road closed at Sector 20 Building 40 construction Alpine Gate & PEP Ring Road closed Gates 17 & 30 open 24-7 Research Yard bisected Announcements (see all \| submit) Lab Announcements Retirement Savings and Stanford Matching Contributions Refresher Course - March 19 New Publication: ESH Manual, Chapter 26, Stormwater Community Bulletin Board Donation box for Sylvia Ramirez Professional development classes offered for April, May, June WorkLife Office Workshops Help Center Workshop: The Thunder Years: Coping with Adolescence Dancing Feet from around the World 2007 News (see all \| submit) How To Understand X-Ray Lasers One Minute How-To (Audio) Galaxy Survey Focuses On 'Pre-teen' Years Science Daily Energy Security Lies in Promoting Alternative Fuels, Ex-CIA chief Says Stanford Report
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<% Response.AddHeader "Last-modified", getArticleDate() 'Response.AddHeader "Last-modified","Mon, 01 Sep 1997 01:03:33 GMT" 'Monday, December 06, 2010 %> View online at http://today.slac.stanford.edu/.