학술논문

Optics interlock system for the CERN LHC: Implementation and operational experience
Document Type
article
Source
Physical Review Accelerators and Beams, Vol 23, Iss 2, p 022801 (2020)
Subject
Nuclear and particle physics. Atomic energy. Radioactivity
QC770-798
Language
English
ISSN
2469-9888
Abstract
In 2016 the luminosity reach of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) was increased by reducing the β-function in the main collision points below the design value to β^{*}=40 cm. This was possible thanks to a specially matched betatron phase advance between the extraction kickers and some sensitive machine elements that would otherwise risk to be damaged by miskicked beam in case of an asynchronous beam dump. This method imposed the demand to guarantee the phase advance always stays within an acceptable tolerance, including operational actions like tune adjustments. Therefore, a new interlock system on the quadrupole magnet currents was put in place to safeguard the stability of the phase advance. This paper describes the technical implementation of this power-converter interlock (PcInterlock) and the strategies used to derive appropriated tolerances to allow sufficient protection without risking false beam dump triggers. The experience with the new PcInterlock settings in 2016-18 are discussed.