LhARA Executive Board 10Jul24; 16:00 BST

Present: CP, KL, CJ, TG, JPar, PP, CW, RB, AGoul, AG

Agenda

0. Introductions ...

1. Notes and actions: All
   Status of actions:
   
   • KL: contact D. Brown to discuss no-cost extensions for LhARA groups supported by grants;
     • Done.
   • KL/RB: Liaise to make sure wiki has list of upcoming conferences to target.
     • Stands.
   • PP/KL to reach out to Wendy Berkeley;
     
     • Done.
   • JPar to reach out to Brm person
     
     • Done. Spoke to his colleague J.Morris a member of the MCMB Panel. Also contacted colleagues in MRC related to the MCMB Panel. Awaiting developments.
   • KL/PP reach out to Heather Burgess re biomedical peer group meeting.
     • Done.

2. LhARA/ITRF PA1 progress update: CW
   
   • WP2: Good progress in recent experimental run to study proton-production. Development of contrast of laser to improve coupling of laser into target. Optimisation of proton production carried out at the end of the run.
   • WP3: M.Patel now introduced to the group. Begun discussion of codes; etc. Working to upgrade potential from 150V to 350V to see whether there is the predicted linear increase in space-charge containment. Continued development of simulation.
   • WP4: Good beam test in Brm. Demonstrated linearity of scintillator response. Reconstructed Bragg peak. Now working on preparation for LMU test. Discussion of EMP, input from Strathclyde important. M.Maxouti to visit LMU to make sure constraints are understood.
     • Agreed that KL would write to M.Noro to ask that Verasonics amplifier and digitiser system is underwritten by project.
   • WP5: Final consultation meeting has been cancelled as it has not yet been advertised and summer break makes it hard to establish. Agreed to return to organising the meeting as the the first consultation meeting of the new series for the bridging period.
   • WP6: Work progressing on study of FFA magnet etc.
   • WP7: JPar discussion with Marie Boyd; experiments are well defined. Lists of equipment defined. Beam line initial guess will be presented tomorrow. Planning beam energy of 10MeV implies that need to prepare mylar-based cell containment.
   • WP8: Progressing engagement activities. PP/M.Noro introductory meeting planned. Recognition of need to enhance engagement and outreach in run-up to and during the bridging period.

3. LhARA/ITRF BP1 bridging activity: All
   
   • OBS for discussion
     • OBS accepted, need to tidy.
   • Outline of student pitch discussed. Agreed KL should push it forward. Noted V.Wright had a role in student training and that KL should make contact.

4. Opportunities for proposals: KL/All
   
   • UKRI Cross Council Pilot Scheme; EPRSC Equipment grant. Initial discussion, revisit at next meeting.

5. Engagement; "developing an offering": KL/PP/All
   Discussion of enhancing our engagement activity. Identified the need for a concrete focus. Proposed to target RS Summer Exhibition in two years, Exhibition Road Festival of Science 2025 as the shorter-term focus and rehearsal opportunnity.
   Endorsed.
   Agreed to launch initiative at next Tuesday's Fortnightly meeting.

6. Conferences and publications; SB report: RB, KP, All
   RB had secured a talk at DPS meeting in a session on the applications of plasma accelerartors.
   Will develop a plan for one of the RAL Public lectures; 18:00--20:00.

7. Collaboration meeting dates: All
   • 02-03 Sep24, Belfast
   • Apr25, UCL

8. DONM
   24Jun24 -- 16:00

9. AoB
   

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