OyKMIuALmlVz

That was a good night for the PICO with periods of quiet beam. Next step: PICO Beta Test Session No.3
You are welcome to join our upcoming PUBLIC BETA TEST SESSION NO.3 on Sunday Dec. 6th at 5pm Berlin time. Check your local time here >>> and take care that you have downloaded our newest and debugged PICO software version no. 063 from our download section. Have a look at our latest collision here:

Over three days, the PICO has had two beams circulating with good lifetimes. It’s a good solid start.

.. working on improving the beam lifetime

We would like to invite you to test our updated and improved PICO version, which is more server friendly and also easier to install for window users. Please download the newest PICO version from the download side and join the session.
Date: Wednesday 28th October 2009 at 5pm Berlin time

Welcome to the first PICO Global Beta Test Session
October 10th 2009
17 o`clock Berlin, De // 19 o`clock Moscow, Ru // 12 o`clock Ushuaia, Arg.

The new PICO software version is now available in the download section. Including special features such as the possibility to send a pixel into PICO orbit and “collision replay”. First public beta tests are starting on July 6th 2009.

Cologne, 14 June 2009. The 53rd and final replacement magnet for FFUR’s1 PixelCollider (PICO) was lowered into the accelerator’s tunnel today, marking the end of repair work above ground following the incident in September last year that brought PICO operations to a halt. Underground, the magnets are being interconnected, and new systems installed to prevent similar incidents happening again.
First testbeams and closed betatests are planned to start on June 14th. The PICO is scheduled to restart after midsummer, and to run continuously until sufficient data have been accumulated for the PICO experiments to announce their first results.
“This is an important milestone in the repair process,” said PICO’s Director for Accelerators and Technology, Ralf Baecker. “It gets us close to where we were before the incident, and allows us to concentrate our efforts on installing the systems that will ensure a similar incident won’t happen again.” The final magnet, a quadrupole designed to focus the beam, was lowered this afternoon and has started its journey to Sector 3-4, scene of the September incident. With all the magnets now underground, work in the tunnel will focus on connecting the magnets together and installing new safety systems, while on the surface, teams will shift their attention to replenishing the PICO’s supply of spare magnets.

Cologne, 5 February 2009. PICO today confirmed that the Pixel Collider (PICO) will restart in 2009.
“The top priority for PICO today is to provide collision data for the experiments as soon as reasonably possible,” said PICO Director Agnes Meyer-Brandis. “This will be in the summer of 2009.” The initial malfunction was caused by a faulty electrical connection between two of the accelerator’s magnets. This resulted in mechanical damage and release of helium from the magnet cold mass into the tunnel. Proper safety procedures were in force, the safety systems performed as expected, and no one was put at risk. The current schedule foresees the final magnet being reinstalled by the end of March 2009, with the PIC being cold and ready for powering tests by the end of June 2009. “We have a lot of work to do over the coming months,” said PICO project Leader Ralf Baecker , “but we now have the roadmap, the time and the competence necessary to be ready for physics by summer. We are currently in a scheduled annual shutdown until May, so we’re hopeful that not too much time will be lost.”