Energy Loss Measurements at LEP 2

The accurate measurement of the W Boson mass at LEP requires to determine the beam energy to the highest possible precision. Present schemes rely on accurate energy determination in the range of 40 to 60 GeV using resonant depolarization and on precise extrapolations to high energy. Several methods based on measurements of the energy loss due to synchroton radiation have been studied. Different approaches such as the study of the damping time of transverse oscillations, the radio frequency sawtooth and the dependence of the synchroton tune on the total accelerating voltage are described and results are discussed

Accelerator Physics at LEP

Accelerator physics issues and their influence on performance are presented for the Large Electron Positron storage ring (LEP) at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland. After several years of operation on the Z boson resonance at beam energies around 45 GeV, the beam energy was increased in steps to over 100 GeV. The major power loss to synchrotron radiation and its consequences on the maximum beam energy are discussed. The subjects of luminosity optimisation, beam-beam effect, instabilities, detector backgrounds and beam lifetime are addressed. The precise beam energy calibration, which is of particular importance for the determination of standard model parameters, is described

Commissioning of the CNGS Extraction in SPS LSS4

The CNGS project (CERN Neutrino to Gran Sasso) aims at directly detecting νμ - Î½Ï oscillations. For this purpose an intense νμ beam is generated at CERN and directed towards LNGS (Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso) in Italy, about 730 km from CERN. The neutrinos are generated from the decay of pions and kaons which are produced by 400 GeV protons hitting a graphite target. The protons are extracted from the SPS straight section 4 (LSS4) in two 10.5 ï­s batches, nominally 2.4 Ñ 1013 protons each, at an interval of 50 ms. The high intensity extracted beam can cause damage to equipment if lost in an uncontrolled way, with the extraction elements particularly at risk. In addition, the beam losses at extraction must be very well controlled to avoid unacceptably high levels of radiation. To guarantee safe operation and limit radiation, the LSS4 extraction system was thoroughly commissioned with beam during the CNGS commissioning in summer 2006. The obtained results in terms of aperture in the extraction channel, longitudinal loss patterns, extraction losses and radiation during nominal operation are summarised in this note

High Intensity Commissioning of the SPS LSS4 extraction for CNGS

The SPS LSS4 fast extraction system will serve both the anti-clockwise ring of the LHC and the CERN Gran Sasso Neutrino project (CNGS). CNGS requires 2 fast extractions of 10.5 microsecond long batches, 50 milliseconds apart. Each batch will consist of 2.4 × 1013 protons at 400 GeV. These intensities are factor of 10 above the equipment damage limit in case of beam loss. Active (interlock system) and passive protection systems have to be in place to guarantee safe operation and to respect the radiation limits in zones close to the extraction region. In summer 2006 CNGS was commissioned including extraction with high intensity. A thorough setting-up of the CNGS extraction was carried out as part of the CNGS commissioning, including aperture and beam loss measurements, and defining and checking of interlock thresholds for extraction trajectory, beam loss monitors and radiation monitors. The relevant systems and risks are introduced in this paper, the commissioning results are summarised and comparisons with simulation predictions are presented

Positron-neutrino correlation in the 0^+ \to 0^+ decay of ^{32}Ar

The positron-neutrino correlation in the $0^+ \to 0^+ \beta$ decay of $^{32}$Ar was measured at ISOLDE by analyzing the effect of lepton recoil on the shape of the narrow proton group following the superallowed decay. Our result is consistent with the Standard Model prediction. For vanishing Fierz interference we find $a=0.9989 \pm 0.0052 \pm 0.0036$, which yields improved constraints on scalar weak interactions

The LHC Sector Test

The proposal to inject beam into a sector of the partially completed LHC is presented. The test will provide an important milestone, force preparation of a number of key systems, and allow a number of critical measurements with beam. The motivation for the test is discussed, along with the proposed beam studies, the radiation issues and the potential impact on ongoing installation. The demands on the various accelerator systems implicated are presented along with the scheduling of the preparatory steps, the test itself and the recovery phase