Children of Argonne and Department of Energy employees at both Argonne sites toured laboratory facilities and took part in hands-on activities during “Take Your Child to Work Day” April 22. Here, a group of children watch scientific glassblowing by Joe Gregar (CHM).

Paper on superconductor film is `most popular'

By Margret Chang

An Argonne publication describing a method to make high-temperature superconducting films for electric power system applications has been designated a "Most Popular Paper" by the Institute of Physics Publishing (IPP) -- an international professional society to disseminate information about advances in physics.

Superconducting films lose all electrical resistance when cooled to low temperatures.

The paper, "Pulsed Laser Deposition of YBCO films on ISD MgO Buffered Metal Tapes," was one of the most requested publications accessed through the IPP Web site in the past 12 months.

YBCO is short for "yttrium barium copper-oxide"-- a compound commonly used to make films for high-current-carrying wires and other electric power devices. In the paper, the group presents a reliable way to fabricate the material by growing the film on a well-designed template. The template, which was made using a technique known as inclined substrate deposition, ensures that the YBCO film is aligned in one direction for efficient conduction of electricity. A technique called pulsed-laser deposition is used to deposit the YBCO film in its vapor phase on the template.

These films are particularly important to the development of superconducting materials that have the ability to carry an electric current with zero resistance. Though the conventional superconducting materials typically function at temperatures as low as minus 273 degrees Celsius or minus 459 degrees Fahrenheit, YBCO films can be used at higher temperatures, such as those approaching the range of liquid nitrogen (minus 196 C or minus 385 F).

The authors of the paper were Beihai Ma, Meiya Li, Rachel Koritala, Brandon Fisher, Allison Markowitz, Bob Erck, Ruxandra Baurceanu, Stephen Dorris, Balu Balachandran (all ET) and Dean Miller (MSD).

"It is an honor for us to be recognized in this manner," said Ma, the study's lead scientist. "That our paper has been read so frequently by scientists all over the world points to the importance of our group's work."

Balachandran, leader of the Ceramics and Superconductivity Group in the Energy Technology Division, said the team's work brings them one step closer to learning more about YBCO and its potential to be used as a high-temperature superconducting film in practical applications. "We will continue to study and develop these superconducting materials for use in electrical applications," he said.

Over the years, Argonne scientists have made great contributions to superconductivity research. In 2001, four researchers in the Materials Science Division were honored as being among the 98 most highly cited physicists in the world from 1981-1999.

The research was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Electric Transmission and Distribution.

Assessment to help PFS improve services, costs

Argonne has retained an international consulting firm to assess the Plant Facilities and Services Division's (PFS) management functions in an effort to improve service and help reduce costs.

"We've undergone several self-assessments and made many changes in recent years," said PFS Director Gwendolyn Morrison, "This assessment by a set of fresh eyes may help us find unique opportunities that have been overlooked, and help validate the changes we've made to our management processes."

A team of 10 auditors from CH2M Hill with expertise in specific areas is looking at most PFS infrastructure management functions, including Utilities Maintenance, Building Maintenance, Custodial Services, Business Systems, Grounds, Facilities Engineering and Construction, Waste Management, Site Services and Safety and Emergency Systems. Central Shops and the Fire Department underwent their own recent assessments and won't be part of this audit. CH2M Hill will also talk to U.S. Department of Energy partners about PFS contract and infrastructure management.

After a "scoping" audit during May, CH2M Hill experts will return for a more thorough assessment. Their findings will be carefully evaluated by PFS and senior laboratory management; any changes resulting from their recommendations will be made in a careful manner and tailored to the laboratory organization as appropriate, Morrison said.

"We believe PFS is a well-run organization, with effective management processes," said Chief Operations Officer Mike Derbidge. "CH2M may help us find ways to improve those processes, and perhaps save money in a time of tight budgets."

CH2M Hill is an employee-owned, multinational firm providing engineering, construction, operations and related services to public and private clients in numerous industries on six continents. The name CH2M Hill is derived from the names of the founders of the company.

CH2M Hill is familiar with DOE facilities. At the Hanford Site near Richland, Washington, the firm conducted design reviews and operability assessments and developed training procedures for plant personnel. The firm also plays a role in decommissioning and environmental cleanup at the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site in Colorado.

Colloquium will provide
insider's view of Cold War

Thomas C. Reed, former Secretary of the U.S. Air Force, will present "At the Abyss: An Insider's History of the Cold War," at a Director's Special Colloquium at Argonne-East Wednesday, May 26.

The talk will begin at 2 p.m. in the Building 362 Auditorium. All employees whose schedules permit are invited to attend.

Reed's experiences in Washington D.C. throughout the Cold War are recorded in his book, "At the Abyss" (Presidio Press/Ballantine Books). Reed's book covers America's fight against communism from the death of Josef Stalin in 1953 to the closing of Strategic Air Command in October 2002.

In addition to Air Force secretary, Reed was director of the National Reconnaissance Office and special assistant to President Reagan for National Security Policy. He has been a consultant to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where much of the nation's nuclear weapons research takes place.

Book signing

Reed will sign copies of "At the Abyss" following the colloquium. To reserve a copy, call Pat Canaday (C&PA) at ext. 2-5562. For pre-paid orders, call the Barnes & Noble bookstore, 1550 W. 75th Street, Downers Grove, at (630) 663-0181. Ask for the manager and mention Argonne. The book costs $27.83.

Argonne-East water in compliance with standards

Argonne-East's drinking water has very low or undetectable levels of contaminants and poses no known or expected risks to health, according to a report required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The U.S. EPA requires that water system users receive an annual Consumer Confidence Report listing detailed data on contaminants. The report contains details on the drinking water source, the level of detected contaminants and compliance with drinking water regulations.

Argonne-East gets its drinking water from the DuPage Water Commission, which gets Lake Michigan water from the City of Chicago's Department of Water.

Detected Contaminants

Chicago Water Department monitoring information for 2003 is summarized in the chart below. EPA-identified contaminants are monitored and analyzed using methods specified by the agency. The chart shows results for constituents that were present in high enough amounts to be detected; regulatory limits are included for comparison. All other monitored constituents were below detection limits.

All monitored concentrations were less than the applicable regulation-based maximum contaminant levels, which indicates the drinking water contaminant levels show no known or expected risk to health.

Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain small amounts of some contaminants. Their presence does not necessarily pose a health risk. Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Those with compromised immune systems -- such as those undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV, AIDs, or other immune system disorders, some elderly and infants -- can be at risk from infections.

For more information, call Jim Heine (PFS-US) at ext. 2-7922. Questions on the analytical data should be directed to Norbert Golchert (EQO), at ext. 2-3912.

For information about EPA guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection from microbial contaminants, and information about contaminants and potential health effects, call the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

* 100% means all samples met standards

Key: NTU -- Nephelometric Turbidity Unit. ppm -- parts per million. ppb -- parts per billion. NA -- not applicable. Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) -- The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety. Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) -- The highest level of contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as is feasible using the best available treatment technology.

Sign-up gets under way for basketball

Sign-up has begun for the "Three on Three" basketball tournament season at Argonne-East.

The tournament is open to Argonne and U.S. Department of Energy employees of any skill level. Games are played at lunchtime at the outdoor basketball court in the 600 area. The tournament begins Monday, June 14.

Partial teams and individuals are welcome. Registration deadline is Friday, June 4.

For more information, rules and scheduling, contact Johnny Reed (PFS) at ext. 2-6071 or page 4-1963.

Club plans fun run for beginners

The Argonne Running Club will hold a Beginner's Run Monday, May 17, starting at the Argonne Pool at noon.

There will be one-, two- and three-mile courses for runners or walkers to choose from. A wide array of routes are planned to encourage all levels of runners and walkers to participate.

All site employees and their guests are welcome. Refreshments will be served after each event.

Blood drive is planned for May 26

LifeSource Blood Services will conduct its bi-annual blood drive Wednesday, May 26, in Argonne-East's Building 617 Lower Level.

Blood donors provide the blood necessary to support patients in hospitals and healthcare facilities. Last September, Argonne-East blood donors provided enough blood to potentially save the lives of more than 198 patients.

The Medical Department will send out additional information and donation forms.

In Memoriam

Joseph Blahunka, a retired engineering assistant with 33 years of service in the Electronics Division, died March 24. His wife, Ethel, survives him.

Claude A. Delorenzo, a retired Office of Operational Safety division director with 12 years of service, died April 4. His wife, Dorothy, survives him.

Theodore M. Gusich, a retired pipefitter with 30 years of service in the Plant Facilities and Services Division, died April 20. His wife, Rosemary, survives him.

Frank A. Ketz, a retired labor group leader with 30 years of service in the Plant Facilities and Services Division, died April 21. His daughter, Shirley Day, survives him.

Jean Pearson, a retired administrative assistant with 23 years of service in the Engineering Division, died April 5. Her sister, Mae Frutchey, survives her.

Roy A. Schultz, a retired senior science technician with 21 years of service in the Physics Division, died April 14. His wife, Elizabeth, survives him.

Jack Settle, a retired science associate with 41 years of service in the Chemical Technology Division, died March 20. His wife, Leila, survives him.

Zeiss 'scopes to be shown in mobile lab

The "Mat Mobile," an 18-wheel microscopy laboratory from Carl Zeiss, Inc., will visit Argonne-East Wednesday, May 19.

The Mat Mobile will exhibit materials microscopes in the Building 212 parking lot, just south of the Building 213 Cafeteria, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Zeiss is touring the United States to showcase and demonstrate its newest optics and contrasting techniques for research and materials analysis. Equipment on display will include stereo and laser scanning confocal microscopes.

Service Awards

Service Awards for May include:

40 Years

Marianne Schiffer (BIO).

35 Years

Johnny Wright (PFS).

30 Years

Carolyn A. Arthur (HR), Steven J. Grammel (NE), Ronald W. King (NT), Ronald F. Kulak (NE), Richard M. Lell (NE), Saurindranath Majumdar (ET), Michael Minkoff (MCS), Earle Alonzo Reseigh (ENT), William G. Wallin (FAC), Thomas E. Watson (ENT).

25 Years

Duane L. Atwood (NPS), Roger N. Blomquist (NE), Jay Jye Ren Liaw (NE), Catherine B. Nelson (IPD), Richard C. Pardo (PHY), Ronald R. Rudolph (NE), Laurie L. Taylor (NPS).

20 Years

Trenna M. LePage (NPS), William C. Metz (DIS), JuDee A. Mortensen (NPS), Douglas M. Pace (ENT), Carol A. Przyzycki (DEP), Dennis M. Weimer (FAC).

15 Years

Reginald M. Alley (ASD), Michael D. Brown (PFS), Kenneth E. Coston (SCD), Stephen M. Folga (DIS), Brent J. Hill (ENT), David Jefferson (ASD), Lubomir Krajtl (NE), Arlen E. Nyman (NE), Grayson Russell (NPS), Sharon A. Schreader (OCF), David Sheradon (PFS), Lenard Van Eps, (FAC), Ronald G. Vollmer (PFS), Eddie Wicklatz (PFS).

10 Years

Jerome Ballentine (IPNS), Rowdy L. Christiansen (NPS), Art DeBaere (PFS), Sharon J. Farrell (ASD), Humberto E. Garcia (NT), Robert P. Gomez (FAC), Karen B. Hellman (OPM), Mark A. Henry (FAC), Steven D. Herrmann (ENT), Thomas H. Hess (NPS), Farren J. Hunt (NPS), Kay D. Ingle (DIS), Kevin O. Keefe (FAC), Bernard Kudirka (ASD), R. Paul Lind (FAC), Christal R. Runz (FAC), June M. Saragossa (PFS), David A. Schirkora (PFS), Marilyn A. Smejkal (PFS), Bradley Stephens (PFS), Roger Stoddard (FAC), Wolfgang Sturhahn (XFD), Justin A. Tomchak (NPS), Vicki L. Worrell (CIS).

5 Years

Albert Barcikowski (NE), Paul L. Boisvert (IPD), Mark R. Cagwin (OCF), John J. Coyle (NE), Anthony T. Fracaro (EQO), J. Murray Gibson (APS), John F. Krebs (CMT), Krzysztof Z. Lazarski (BIO), David S. Miller (EA), Corby B. Schmitz (CIS), Carlos E.M. Wagner (HEP), Brian J. Zook (PFS).

Questions about Social Security to be answered

A representative of the Social Security Administration's Joliet office will visit Argonne-East's Human Resources office Wednesday, May 19, from 8 a.m. to noon.

The representative will:

Take applications for new Social Security cards, including original cards for newborns, corrected cards due to marriage, or replacement cards.

Help with earnings posting problems.

Answer general questions about the Social Security program.

To schedule a meeting with the Social Security representative, call ext. 2-2989.

Retirees

Frances C. Anderson (OCF) retired April 16 with 26 years of service.

Newell K. Bingham (FAC) retired April 30 with 32 years of service.

Tai-Hsin Chien (ET) retired April 30 with 24 years of service.

Donald Cyborski (PHY) retired April 9 with 40 years of service.

Larry J. Hill (FAC) retired March 31 with 14 years of service.

T. William Knoerzer (PBC) retired April 30 with 36 years of service.

Rimantas Ray Pencyla (PFS) retired April 1 with 11 years of service.

Blakey J. Ryan (PFS) retired April 30 with 39 years of service.

Jean R. Slater (DIS) retired April 2 with 14 years of service.

Brian L. Wright (FAC) retired April 30 with 10 years of service.