This summer, TRIUMF ran a survey through social media to connect with our followers and friends on Facebook and Twitter, and in return we offered a chance to win a “behind the scenes” tour of the lab and lunch with researchers. An algorithm randomly picked our winner, Helen Warn. Helen, from McGill University and currently in Vancouver, has long followed TRIUMF on Facebook to catch “behind the scenes” photos, the latest science news, and updates on events.
Over the following weeks, Helen had the difficult task in narrowing her group of friends to nine – the nine who would accompany her on this “behind the scenes” tour of TRIUMF. From our first communication with Helen, her enthusiasm was infectious.
On September 18th, Helen and her friends joined us early in the morning to begin their tour of TRIUMF. The tour started in the lobby with a glimpse behind the dark curtain of the Cloud Chamber. The tour group carefully peered into the detector to see traces of the cosmic radiation naturally present in earth's atmosphere. “I was fascinated watching the small cloud chamber – it made things come alive,” Helen said.
Every researcher who participated in the tour, or who was caught along the route noticed Helen’s enthusiasm. Needless to say the TRIUMF staff were also enthusiastic to share their work.
From the lobby, physicist Isabel Trigger escorted the group off the beaten path. Dodging past the main cyclotron building, the group headed into the MHESA chemistry lab and were greeted by Paul Schaffer, head of nuclear medicine (bottom photo). Paul explained how the nuclear medicine program at TRIUMF investigates and uses isotopes for medical applications.
“I had no idea that you were working on nuclear medicine, and are one of the premier research facilities in the world on this subject… I am so proud of TRIUMF,” Helen Warn commented.
Circling back to the heart of the Meson Hall, the guests descended into the shared Proton Therapy and PIF&NIF facility. The tour group had an opportunity to see the area where patients with ocular melanoma receive proton therapy treatment to destroy the cancerous tumour. TRIUMF treats about ten patients a year with this rare disease. Cornelia Hoehr, head of proton therapy, explained how her team can ensure the proton beam hits exactly where intended without also damaging the eye, brain, or any other tissue.
Protons have other applications, too. Mike Trinczek, facility coordinator for the Proton and Neutron Irradiation Facility (PIF&NIF), explained how protons are used to test electronics for space applications. “Do you remember the traces of the naturally occurring protons you saw in the Cloud Chamber?” asked Mike. “In space, electronics have no protection from the environment and so protons can cause glitches in electronics and interfere with the integrity of the equipment. It could cause loss of satellite control or stop a camera from working. At TRIUMF, we can rapidly test equipment and electronics and see if they are suitable for space.”
Control Room Shift Supervisor Dale Nagra shared what it means to “control” the TRIUMF and main cyclotron from the Control Room. Over in the Electron Hall, Project Leader Shane Koscielniak walked the group through the various components being installed and tested for TRIUMF’s new electron linear accelerator.
Excited and exhausted from a whirlwind tour across a 13-acre campus, Helen and guests were brought back to the Main Office Building for a pizza lunch.
During lunch, Helen’s ears perked up when she heard that chaos theory was applicable to particle physics. “It makes me wonder whether chaos theory is the next major barrier to be surmounted in science in general. Learning that has motivated me to acquire a couple of new books on the subject and start reading up about it,” said Helen.
A few days after the tour, Helen put together a Facebook photo album of the tour with pictures of the areas visited. Check it out here: Helen's Album!
“We all want to thank you very, very much for an amazing experience. We were entranced, and we are extremely grateful to so many people for giving us their valuable time,” emailed Helen Warn, on behalf of herself and her friends.
Check us out on Twitter and Facebook @TRIUMFLab! Ask us questions, learn about our events, and keep connected! TRIUMF is running another social media survey and contest for the chance to win a Polaroid camera.
By Kyla Shauer, Communications Assistant