Accelerator Report: The LHC commissioning is well on track, but challenges lie ahead

The first beam-based physics of 2025 has started and more will follow soon. However, some unexpected challenges will cause a small delay in the restart of the LHC.

By Rende Steerenberg

Last week, on 19 March, the first beam-based physics of the year began when protons from the PS hit the n_TOF target, producing the neutrons required for the n_TOF experiments. On that same day, physics was also scheduled to start in the PS East Area, but had to be delayed after an issue with a collimator in one of the four East Area beamlines was identified: the collimator was found to be partially closed and obstructing the beam path.

Collimators are key components used to remove unwanted halo particles from the beam. They consist of movable parts that can be adjusted electro-mechanically to set the beam’s aperture. In this case, the faulty collimator required replacement.

Under the coordination of the Experimental Areas (BE-EA) group, a team of experts from various domains quickly devised a plan for the replacement. However, accessing the collimator required the removal of the thick concrete shielding blocks above the beamline…