Monday, 18th July
Happy Monday! :) Today I felt like I was officially part of the SLAC and Stanford team because I set up my Stanford and SLAC email account and I got issued my Stanford card too! The rest of my day consisted of finishing off some more laser safety training. I know what you're thinking.. still more training?! Well, I guess it is there to keep me safe so the more I know the better. :)
Happy Monday! :) Today I felt like I was officially part of the SLAC and Stanford team because I set up my Stanford and SLAC email account and I got issued my Stanford card too! The rest of my day consisted of finishing off some more laser safety training. I know what you're thinking.. still more training?! Well, I guess it is there to keep me safe so the more I know the better. :)
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| Yay! Now I'm a member of SLAC and Stanford - feeling part of the team now :) |
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| I also found an Eevee just outside LCLS! |
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| I also took the opportunity to explore more of LCLS FEH - the far experimental hall. |
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| Entrance to LCLS FEH from my office which is in between the near and far experimental hall |
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| LCLS FEH tunnel - love it! |
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| BEAM ON - experiment in progress |
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| Outside AMO hutch.. |
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| Atomic, Molecular and Optical Science (AMO) hutch |
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| Pink laser goggles found outside AMO hutch - my fav! |
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| Loving the fact that each of the experimental hutches have their own colour! This one has green desktop background and green chairs! Even the cupboards and the labs are coloured too - oh and even the cable ties have to be the same colour! I LOVE this too much! |
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| Local LCLS snake at X-ray Pump Probe (XPP) hutch ;) |
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| XPP |
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| X-ray Correlation Spectroscopy (XCS) hutch |
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| XCS |
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| XCS |
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| Oooh and SLAC entrance is a Pokestop :) |
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| ..and I found a Mankey on my bus journey home |
Tuesday, 19th July
This morning I was given the task to plot a graph of output voltage as a function of temperature for a temperature sensor that will be used in one of the new laser labs at SLAC. First though, I had to make sure it worked and I had to familiarise myself with all the components.
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| The circuit board for the home-made temperature sensor made by SLAC staff scientist |
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| Temperature sensor (NTC thermistor) |
At around 2pm I had my on-the-job training (OJT) session with a SLAC staff scientist that works at LCLS. During this session I got to see one of the research laser labs and wear pink laser goggles!! Wearing the pink laser goggles was of course my favourite part! :) I was told about the interlock systems specifically for that lab, I was shown the titanium-sapphire laser, compressor, oscillator and amplifiers. I was also given access to the lab via my SLAC badge which also allows me to use the laser control system. :) I had to sign a few forms and am now only an interview away from becoming a QLO, a Qualified Laser Operator! Woop! Woop! :)
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| This was the lab where I had my on-the-job training - this lab had a class 4 Ti-Sapphire laser in it |
After finishing my OJT, I was able to see the laser hall in the near experimental hall at LCLS - it was so cool seeing how the laser is 'supplied' to the different experimental hutches! And the beam profile was perfect! I've never seen such a nice beam profile and it was ridiculously stable!
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| Main Laser Hall in Near Experimental Hall at LCLS |
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| Loving the purple colour scheme in the Laser Hall - just hoping LCLS II can have a pink/magenta experimental hutch! ;) |
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| Very stable and nice looking beam profile - quality laser work! |
The rest of my afternoon was spent finishing off my circuit drawing of the temperature sensor and researching the different components, including the op-amp (operational amplifier) which forms part of the Wheatstone bridge in the circuit.
Wednesday, 20th July
After a morning of more learning about how the temperature sensor works I had an EPIC meeting with the communications group where we discussed the exciting things I could do with them. I was also kindly given a tour of the communications group and I met the lovely, Kathryn, the editor-in-chief of Symmetry Magazine! I love reading their articles because they use cool analogies for complex physics and it's great for learning how to write scientific articles in layman's terms.
I also got to see the graphic designers, writers, web designers and the rest of the team that works to organise events at SLAC, produce articles and post things on social media.
I also got to see the graphic designers, writers, web designers and the rest of the team that works to organise events at SLAC, produce articles and post things on social media.
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| Beautiful view from the floor where the SLAC communications group live - I just find it mind blowing that the weather is like this everyday! |
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| Loving the modern look of this building |
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| SLAC Wildlife: spotted this heron (?) whilst I was walking back to the office. It's never a dull day at SLAC! |
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| Took a more adventurous route back to the office and this was my view - check out the mountains in the background! |
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| Panorama shot |
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| Mountain view |
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| Clear, blue skies |
Thursday, 21st July
Today I had a bit of a slow morning sorting out some paperwork and then got back to work on my temperature sensor and I think I now know what the circuit looks is like, yay! :) I also found the scale factor between temperature and output voltage so now we can tell what temperature it is from just measuring the output voltage! :)
That afternoon, all the interns were invited to the Stanford Physics Barbecue which was a great opportunity to meet other interns and learn about the projects they were doing. I also took this opportunity to have a photoshoot backdropped with the beautiful Stanford University.
That afternoon, all the interns were invited to the Stanford Physics Barbecue which was a great opportunity to meet other interns and learn about the projects they were doing. I also took this opportunity to have a photoshoot backdropped with the beautiful Stanford University.
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| BBQ in full flow |
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| Hoover Institute Tower on the left |
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| I love a good tree to climb - I couldn't resist this one at Stanford :) |
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| The buildings are so picturesque and huge! |
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| Church in the centre of the Stanford campus |
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| Stanford campus is just too pretty and has so much greenery - I LOVE IT! :) |
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| Sunset looked epic at Stanford and was made perfect with the palm tree silhouette! #Picturesque |
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| Epic water feature found at Stanford |
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| Loving the stone walls and pillars at Stanford |
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| Just chilling with some Stanford locals ;) |
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| Centre of Stanford campus |
Friday, 22nd July
Lots of laboratory work today.. First thing in the morning my supervisor and I went to the old laser lab where we set up a spectrometer and infrared light source which we then collimated so that we could use the setup to check for the range of transmitted wavelengths through the new laser goggles we ordered for the new laser lab. We checked the transmitted light spectrum and compared this to the wavelengths stated on the laser goggles and it was perfect! Only a tiny bit of light was allowed through in the wavelength range of: 532 - 650 nm and the rest was all blocked! Awesome! Good to know that my eyes will be safe when using the new laser.
After lunch we moved some stuff from the old lab to the new laser lab in a HUGE truck - being driven around in this American-sized truck was just so much fun!
I also had my Laser Accidents and Lessons Learned Course as well as my 'becoming a Qualified Laser Operator (QLO)' interview - was so nervous! The course lasted about an hour and a half and it went through previous laser accidents (which kinda scared me a little) and basically taught us the do's and don'ts of laser lab work. It was very insightful and made me see mistakes that I hadn't seen/been told about before. I had the dreaded interview after that which wasn't too bad. I was just tested on a bit of my laser knowledge and how I would act in a laser lab. After about half an hour I was free and left the building as a qualified laser operator! Woop! Woop! Now I can work in the laser lab! :)
It was nice to end the week on a high. :)
After lunch we moved some stuff from the old lab to the new laser lab in a HUGE truck - being driven around in this American-sized truck was just so much fun!
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| Truck ride! :) |
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| Huge side mirrors with epic view to match! |
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| The truck was definitely American sized! |
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| The first of many boxes that need to be moved from the old lab to the new lab |
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| Loaded truck |
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| Silver screws for use in vacuum chambers |
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| Screw drawer heaven - wish all lab drawers could be like this :) |
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| New laser lab |
I also had my Laser Accidents and Lessons Learned Course as well as my 'becoming a Qualified Laser Operator (QLO)' interview - was so nervous! The course lasted about an hour and a half and it went through previous laser accidents (which kinda scared me a little) and basically taught us the do's and don'ts of laser lab work. It was very insightful and made me see mistakes that I hadn't seen/been told about before. I had the dreaded interview after that which wasn't too bad. I was just tested on a bit of my laser knowledge and how I would act in a laser lab. After about half an hour I was free and left the building as a qualified laser operator! Woop! Woop! Now I can work in the laser lab! :)
It was nice to end the week on a high. :)
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| Now that I'm a QLO I can rock these funky laser goggles! :) |
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| On my way back to the office I spotted a family of deer! So cute! |
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