Markus Guehr at a PULSE laser lab on Stanford's campus.

Science in the Fast Lane:
The Many Faces of SLAC's PULSE Center

by Brad Plummer

Much of SLAC's scientific future lies in the realm of the ultrafast, and the backbone of that research is the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS). Now, a unique SLAC–Stanford venture aims to guide this exciting new field of inquiry—the Photon Ultrafast Laser Science and Engineering (PULSE) group led by Philip Bucksbaum. Together, PULSE collaborators are designing experiments in condensed matter physics, biology, chemistry, and atomic physics geared in part toward capitalizing on the unique capabilities of the LCLS.

Since well before the start of LCLS construction, experiments at the PULSE center have been gaining momentum. In one of the current experiments underway, PULSE researcher Markus Guehr, working together with grad students Brian McFarland and Joe Farrell at a laser laboratory on the Stanford campus, is piecing together clues about a laser technique called "high harmonic generation." Based on phenomena first observed in 1993 by researchers in France, high harmonic generation is a technique wherein laser light, focused onto cooled atoms or small molecules, causes the atoms each to behave like ultra-miniature accelerators. The result is a spectrum of light emitted by the atoms that is more energetic than the light put into the system, and which can reveal information about how the nuclei and electrons continually rearrange themselves over extremely short timescales. Read more...

Lab Adopts New Worker Safety and Health Plan

by Ken Kingery

This week, the Department of Energy approved SLAC's new Worker Safety and Health Plan (WSHP), which adheres to new Federal laws.

In February, the DOE's new program entitled 10 CFR 851: Worker Safety & Health Plan went into effect. In short, the program takes existing safety practices and codifies them into Federal law, ensuring that the rules are applied evenly to every DOE contractor and facility. SLAC developed a written WSHP in accordance with this new regulatory standard and in February submitted it to the DOE for approval.

Although SLAC's policies and procedures were already mostly compliant, some updating and corrections were needed. As you may have noticed, there has been a flurry of activity in recent months regarding the updating and publishing of new chapters of the Environment, Safety and Health (ES&H) Manual (e.g., Industrial Hygiene, Hoisting & Rigging, Traffic Safety, and so on). These chapters were needed to provide the supporting procedures for the WSHP.

One of the biggest impacts for SLAC will be in the flow-down of the requirements to SLAC subcontractors and suppliers who work at the site. Because of this, the way we manage contracts with both construction and on-site service firms has been updated. This requires that subcontractors and suppliers provide more detailed information about their worker safety and health programs as part of the contract process.

SLAC's Purchasing Department has begun sending letters to existing subcontractors informing them of the new code and working with current and new subcontractors and suppliers to assure that the new safety regulatory requirements are appropriately addressed going forward.

Also, the Business Services Division has named Daphne Mitchell as their customer assistance representative to help departments address safety requirements on new or renewing on-site service requisitions entered into the BIS system. The Purchasing Department is in the process of automating the PeopleSoft system to accommodate procedural changes needed to meet these new regulatory requirements.

So what does this mean for everyone at SLAC?

New posters have been going up around the site regarding worker's rights and responsibilities under the DOE regulation. In addition, updated supervisor safety training has been developed and courses will be given in May and June. This is all part of the ongoing process of improving SLAC's ES&H Program—protecting the health and safety of those working at SLAC, the public, and the environment as it carries out its scientific mission.

The full program description is available online. Contact Brian Sherin, the WSHP program manager, at x5082 with additional questions.

Celebrate 60 Years of Accelerated Electrons

Don't forget! SLAC will hold a celebration to commemorate 60 years of accelerated electrons tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. in Panofsky Auditorium. All are invited to attend. Learn more...

Juneteenth Celebration Scheduled for June 15

by Wanda Elliott

Juneteenth 2006.
(Image courtesy of Diana Rogers.)

Save the date! This year's Juneteenth Celebration is scheduled for Friday, June 15.

The celebration is the oldest African American celebration in America and commemorates the day when American slaves became aware of their freedom.

In January of 1863, President Abraham Lincoln enacted the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing the southern slaves. Word was then sent out by telegraph and written correspondence through the south. But the message of freedom was denied most southern slaves.

The Juneteenth celebration honors our African ancestors who never knew the freedoms they prayed, fought, and died for. Juneteenth also honors the thousands of black souls whose perseverance and courage got them to the promised land and the thousands of black and white souls who helped them book passage on the underground railroad.

It is a day of family and a coming together of all the household villages in celebration of ancestors. It is also a day to eat or drink something red, a Juneteenth tradition. The color red is associated with victory in West African Society, and at most Juneteenth celebrations there will be sweet watermelon, red soft drinks or punch.

Date: Friday, June 15, 2007
Time: 11:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
(Food from 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.)
Place: Lawn area west of the Research Office Building

All are invited!

Safety Seconds

by John Cornuelle

Living on the ocean in Hawaii creates an enormous respect for the power and danger of the ocean. Most boats are outboards, and everyone always carries a spare tank of gasoline just in case. But the expensive hazard control device that just about everyone has is a spare outboard engine mounted off center on every transom. In many cases, it looks like the spare engine may be worth more than the boat. And there is no law or regulation requiring this.

Events (see all | submit)

May 22: (12:30 p.m.) Experimental Seminar: Evidence for Mixing in the D0-D0bar System from Belle
May 23: (12:00 p.m.) WIS Seminar - "Personal Wealth Preservation Strategies: Estate Planning"

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Announcements
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Lab Announcements

News (see all | submit)

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

Markus Guehr at a PULSE laser lab on Stanford's campus. Science in the Fast Lane: The Many Faces of SLAC's PULSE Center by Brad Plummer Much of SLAC's scientific future lies in the realm of the ultrafast, and the backbone of that research is the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS). Now, a unique SLAC–Stanford venture aims to guide this exciting new field of inquiry—the Photon Ultrafast Laser Science and Engineering (PULSE) group led by Philip Bucksbaum. Together, PULSE collaborators are designing experiments in condensed matter physics, biology, chemistry, and atomic physics geared in part toward capitalizing on the unique capabilities of the LCLS. Since well before the start of LCLS construction, experiments at the PULSE center have been gaining momentum. In one of the current experiments underway, PULSE researcher Markus Guehr, working together with grad students Brian McFarland and Joe Farrell at a laser laboratory on the Stanford campus, is piecing together clues about a laser technique called "high harmonic generation." Based on phenomena first observed in 1993 by researchers in France, high harmonic generation is a technique wherein laser light, focused onto cooled atoms or small molecules, causes the atoms each to behave like ultra-miniature accelerators. The result is a spectrum of light emitted by the atoms that is more energetic than the light put into the system, and which can reveal information about how the nuclei and electrons continually rearrange themselves over extremely short timescales. Read more...

Lab Adopts New Worker Safety and Health Plan by Ken Kingery This week, the Department of Energy approved SLAC's new Worker Safety and Health Plan (WSHP), which adheres to new Federal laws. In February, the DOE's new program entitled 10 CFR 851: Worker Safety & Health Plan went into effect. In short, the program takes existing safety practices and codifies them into Federal law, ensuring that the rules are applied evenly to every DOE contractor and facility. SLAC developed a written WSHP in accordance with this new regulatory standard and in February submitted it to the DOE for approval. Although SLAC's policies and procedures were already mostly compliant, some updating and corrections were needed. As you may have noticed, there has been a flurry of activity in recent months regarding the updating and publishing of new chapters of the Environment, Safety and Health (ES&H) Manual (e.g., Industrial Hygiene, Hoisting & Rigging, Traffic Safety, and so on). These chapters were needed to provide the supporting procedures for the WSHP. One of the biggest impacts for SLAC will be in the flow-down of the requirements to SLAC subcontractors and suppliers who work at the site. Because of this, the way we manage contracts with both construction and on-site service firms has been updated. This requires that subcontractors and suppliers provide more detailed information about their worker safety and health programs as part of the contract process. SLAC's Purchasing Department has begun sending letters to existing subcontractors informing them of the new code and working with current and new subcontractors and suppliers to assure that the new safety regulatory requirements are appropriately addressed going forward. Also, the Business Services Division has named Daphne Mitchell as their customer assistance representative to help departments address safety requirements on new or renewing on-site service requisitions entered into the BIS system. The Purchasing Department is in the process of automating the PeopleSoft system to accommodate procedural changes needed to meet these new regulatory requirements. So what does this mean for everyone at SLAC? New posters have been going up around the site regarding worker's rights and responsibilities under the DOE regulation. In addition, updated supervisor safety training has been developed and courses will be given in May and June. This is all part of the ongoing process of improving SLAC's ES&H Program—protecting the health and safety of those working at SLAC, the public, and the environment as it carries out its scientific mission. The full program description is available online. Contact Brian Sherin, the WSHP program manager, at x5082 with additional questions.	Celebrate 60 Years of Accelerated Electrons Don't forget! SLAC will hold a celebration to commemorate 60 years of accelerated electrons tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. in Panofsky Auditorium. All are invited to attend. Learn more... Juneteenth Celebration Scheduled for June 15 by Wanda Elliott Juneteenth 2006. (Image courtesy of Diana Rogers.) Save the date! This year's Juneteenth Celebration is scheduled for Friday, June 15. The celebration is the oldest African American celebration in America and commemorates the day when American slaves became aware of their freedom. In January of 1863, President Abraham Lincoln enacted the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing the southern slaves. Word was then sent out by telegraph and written correspondence through the south. But the message of freedom was denied most southern slaves. The Juneteenth celebration honors our African ancestors who never knew the freedoms they prayed, fought, and died for. Juneteenth also honors the thousands of black souls whose perseverance and courage got them to the promised land and the thousands of black and white souls who helped them book passage on the underground railroad. It is a day of family and a coming together of all the household villages in celebration of ancestors. It is also a day to eat or drink something red, a Juneteenth tradition. The color red is associated with victory in West African Society, and at most Juneteenth celebrations there will be sweet watermelon, red soft drinks or punch. Date: Friday, June 15, 2007 Time: 11:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (Food from 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.) Place: Lawn area west of the Research Office Building All are invited! Safety Seconds by John Cornuelle Living on the ocean in Hawaii creates an enormous respect for the power and danger of the ocean. Most boats are outboards, and everyone always carries a spare tank of gasoline just in case. But the expensive hazard control device that just about everyone has is a spare outboard engine mounted off center on every transom. In many cases, it looks like the spare engine may be worth more than the boat. And there is no law or regulation requiring this.	Events (see all \| submit) May 22: (12:30 p.m.) Experimental Seminar: Evidence for Mixing in the D0-D0bar System from Belle May 23: (12:00 p.m.) WIS Seminar - "Personal Wealth Preservation Strategies: Estate Planning" Access (see all) Alpine Gate & PEP Ring Road closed Gates 17 & 30 open 24-7 Research Yard bisected Announcements (see all \| submit) Lab Announcements Citrix Troubleshooting New Publication: ESH Manual, Chapter 34, Biohazards New Publication: ESH Manual, Chapter 41, Hoisting and Rigging Child Care Subsidy Grant Application Period C is now open News (see all \| submit) The Nitty Gritty on the Physics of Sand NPR Physicists Exploit Ultra-cold Gases to Measure Ultra-small Magnetic Fields EurekAlert
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	Tuesday - May 22, 2007

Science in the Fast Lane: The Many Faces of SLAC's PULSE Center