Accelerator Report: Linac4 beam commissioning is nearing completion and the PS Booster is next in line

While the first H⁻ ion beams have been accelerated up to 160 MeV in Linac4, the PS Booster is preparing for its first proton injection of 2025.

By Rende Steerenberg

The Linac4 display showing the beam as it passes through the accelerating structures. The green bar on the left-hand side shows the H⁻ ion beam current (-40 mA) out of the source into Linac4. After some initial losses, the beam is accelerated to 160 MeV and sent to the beam dump at the end of Linac4, located just before the transfer line that connects Linac4 with the PSB. This is why the green bars end at L4Z. (Image: CERN)

As I write, the hardware re-commissioning of the PS Booster (PSB), which began on 13 February, is progressing well and remains on schedule – the injection of the first 2025 proton beam into the PSB is planned for 27 February. From that point onward, Linac4 should be fully operational, providing beams to the PSB in a stable and reliable way, ready for an efficient PSB beam commissioning.

Meanwhile, on 22 February, the hardware re-commissioning of both the Proton Synchrotron (PS) and the Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS) also began. The two accelerators are on track to receive their first proton beams and begin beam commissioning on 5 March and 14 March, respectively…