Accelerator Report: Recommissioning on track as the first beams progress through the complex

The recommissioning of the accelerators is progressing according to schedule. Unsurprisingly, some issues have arisen, but they have been swiftly addressed by equipment experts. First physics in the PS East Area and n_TOF is scheduled to start next week.

By Rende Steerenberg

The signals of two vacuum pressure sensors in sextant 6 of the SPS. On the left-hand side, the normal vacuum pressure is visible and rather flat. Just before 5.00 p.m. on 10 March, the magnets were pulsed and the pressure increased. When the pulsing of the magnets is interrupted, the vacuum pressure recovers somewhat. (Image: CERN)

In my previous report, I wrote that the first beam injection of 2025 into the PS Booster (PSB) was scheduled for 27 February. However, injection ultimately took place ahead of schedule, at around 11.30 a.m. on 26 February.
Following this, the standalone beam commissioning period for the PSB began. During this phase, the PSB team focused on commissioning the beam within the PSB, without needing to deliver it to downstream machines or experiment areas.

This phase concluded with the first beam delivery to the PS at noon on 4 March, also one day ahead of schedule. With this, the PSB standalone commissioning ended, and PS standalone commissioning began.

It is important to note that the conclusion of PSB standalone commissioning does not mean that all its operational beams have been fully recommissioned. The commissioning of the various beam types required by the downstream machines and experiment areas will continue in parallel. These beams will be transferred into the PS at a later stage for further commissioning…

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