The Center for Advanced Microsystems and Devices (CAMD) at Louisiana State University came out of a 3 1/2 week shutdown in good shape. During this time, the liquid helium chamber frame was repaired and a new aluminum chamber was placed in dipole #8 complete with new beam diagnostic capabilities. We also rebuilt parts of both the wiggler tomography beamline and the protein crystallography beamline.
Recently, we have had an external review by both the machine advisory committee and the scientific advisory committee. We have interviewed three suitable candidates for the position of permanent director and are busy writing a proposal for the current, near, and developing future for the facility. Plans are also being developed to propose a new facility to replace an ageing second-generation synchrotron with a significantly brighter source. The future is bright (or at least substantially brighter) for the new ring of the south--known as ROSE (Ring of the Southeast) or SEALS (Southeast Advanced Light Source). It is still on the drawing boards, but the new triple-bend configuration can mean substantially more flux. Stay tuned for more exciting news from the Southeast!