IONS FOR LHC: STATUS OF THE INJECTOR CHAIN

The LHC will, in addition to proton runs, be operated with Pb ions and provide collisions at energies of 5.5 TeV per nucleon pair, i.e. more than 1.1 PeV per event, to experiments. The transformation of CERN's ion injector complex (Linac3-LEIR-PS-SPS) to allow collision of ions in LHC in 2008 is well under way. The status of these modifications and the latest results of commissioning will be presented. The remaining challenges are reviewed

Ions for LHC: Towards Completion of the Injector Chain

The commissioning of CERN's ion injector complex [1] to allow 1.1 PeV collisions of ions in LHC is well under way. After the Low Energy Ion Ring (LEIR) in 2005 [2] and the Proton Synchrotron (PS) in 2006 [3], the Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS) has now been commissioned with the 'Early' ion beam, which should give a luminosity of $5×10^{25}cm^{-2}s^{-1}$ in the LHC. This paper summarizes the operation in 2007 of all the machines involved in the ion injection chain

The physics potential of proton-nucleus collisions at the TeV scale

The LHC brings nuclear collisions to the TeV scale for the first time and the first data show the qualitative differences of this new regime. The corresponding phase-space available encompasses completely uncharted regions of QCD in which high-density or high-temperature domains can be identified. Proton-nucleus runs are essential for a complete interpretation of the data and for the study of new regimes dominated by large occupation numbers in the hadronic wave function. I comment here the physics opportunities for p+Pb runs at the LHC and d+Au runs at RHIC and the corresponding needs in view of the new Pb+Pb data from the LHC.Comment: Proceedings of the conference Quark Matter 2011, Annecy (France) May 201

Proton-Nucleus Collisions at the LHC: Scientific Opportunities and Requirements

Proton-nucleus (p+A) collisions have long been recognized as a crucial component of the physics programme with nuclear beams at high energies, in particular for their reference role to interpret and understand nucleus-nucleus data as well as for their potential to elucidate the partonic structure of matter at low parton fractional momenta (small-x). Here, we summarize the main motivations that make a proton-nucleus run a decisive ingredient for a successful heavy-ion programme at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and we present unique scientific opportunities arising from these collisions. We also review the status of ongoing discussions about operation plans for the p+A mode at the LHC.Comment: 33 pages, 15 Figure

First run of the LHC as a heavy-ion collider

A year of LHC operation typically consists of an extended run with colliding protons, ending with a month in which the LHC has to switch to its second role as a heavy ion collider and provide a useful integrated luminosity to three experiments. The first such run in November 2010 demonstrated that this is feasible. Commissioning was extremely rapid, with collisions of Pb nuclei achieved within 54 h of first injection. Stable beams for physics data-taking were declared a little over one day later and the final integrated luminosity substantially exceeded expectations.

The First LHC p-Pb Run: Performance of the Heavy Ion Production Complex

The first LHC proton-ion run took place in January-February 2013; it was the first extension to the collider programme, as this mode was not included in the design report. This paper presents the performance of the heavy ion and proton production complex, and details the issues encountered, in particular the creation of the same bunch pattern in both beams

The LHC Lead Injector Chain

A sizeable part of the LHC physics programme foresees lead-lead collisions with a design luminosity of 1027 cm-2 s-1. This will be achieved after an upgrade of the ion injector chain comprising Linac3, LEIR, PS and SPS machines [1,2]. Each LHC ring will be filled in 10 min by almost 600 bunches, each of 7×107 lead ions. Central to the scheme is the Low Energy Ion Ring (LEIR) [3,4], which transforms long pulses from Linac3 into high-brilliance bunches by means of multi-turn injection, electron cooling and accumulation. Major limitations along the chain, including space charge, intrabeam scattering, vacuum issues and emittance preservation are highlighted. The conversion from LEAR (Low Energy Antiproton Ring) to LEIR involves new magnets and power converters, high-current electron cooling, broadband RF cavities, and a UHV vacuum system with getter (NEG) coatings to achieve a few 10-12 mbar. Major hardware changes in Linac3 and the PS are also covered. An early ion scheme with fewer bunches (but each at nominal intensity) reduces the work required for early LHC ion operation in spring 2008

Ions for LHC: performance of the injector chain

The first LHC Pb ion run took place at 1.38 A TeV/c per beam in autumn 2010. After a short period of runningin, the injector chain was able to fill the collider with up to 137 bunches per ring, with an intensity of 108 Pb82+ ions/bunch, about 50% higher than the design value. This yielded a luminosity of 3×1025 Hz/cm2, allowing the experiments to accumulate just under 10 b-1 each during the four week run. We review the performance of the individual links of the injector chain, and address the main issues limiting the LHC luminosity, in view of reaching 1026 Hz/cm2 in 2011, and substantially beyond when the LHC energy increases after the long shutdown in 2013-14

Performance of the CERN Heavy Ion production complex

The second LHC ion run took place at 1.38 A TeV/c per beam in autumn 2011; more than 100 inverse microbarns were accumulated by each of the experiments. In addition, the LHC injector chain delivered primary Pb and secondary Be ion beams to fixed target experiments in the SPS North Area. This paper presents the current performance of the heavy ion production complex, and prospects to further improve it in the near future