Category: Accelerators
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Accelerator Report: From protons to ions – the LHC and its injectors prepare for the Run 3 finale
At 6 a.m. on 19 May, the LHC Run 3 proton physics programme officially came to an end. Thanks to the excellent performance and availability of both the LHC and its injector chain, this year’s integrated luminosity surpassed all expectations, with all four main LHC experiments recording values well above the original projections (fig. 1).
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The public consultation process for the Future Circular Collider (FCC) project begins in Switzerland and France
The public consultation process for the CERN-led Future Circular Collider (FCC) project will soon begin in Switzerland and France. These four months of exchanges and dialogue with the public are part of the preparations for a final decision on the project. As the CERN Council, comprising representatives of all the Organization’s Member States, prepares to update the European Strategy
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HiLumi LHC: CERN’s full-scale test stand enters the powering phase
With the start of electrical powering, the Inner Triplet String is now entering a new phase of commissioning. This phase will be carried out progressively and will culminate in the powering of the whole installation this summer
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Accelerator Report: Excellent performance at the LHC
The LHC has successfully reached the nominal performance required for Run 3, marking an important milestone in the 2026 physics programme. It has now entered a special run with a reduced number of collisions per bunch crossing
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Accelerator Report: HiLumi LHC beam reliability runs pave the way to the future
Dedicated HiLumi LHC beam test runs are currently taking place in the LHC injectors – a crucial step to guarantee that the HiLumi LHC can operate at peak performance from the very start of physics running, in 2030
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Accelerator Report: The 2026 run will be short but intense
Every day counts, so the LHC operations teams have mapped out a precise sequence of running phases to maximise the physics output during the machine’s final months
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Crystal shadowing to reduce beam losses
A new system made of precisely aligned thin, bent crystal arrays will greatly improve particle beams sent to fixed-target experiments in CERN’s North Area, while also protecting sensitive equipment
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Final laps at the LHC
The final physics season at the LHC has just kicked off! The experiments will record collisions until the end of June, when work will begin on transforming the machine into a high-luminosity accelerator.
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HiLumi LHC: cryogenics equipment arrives underground
Two cold boxes have been transported down into the service tunnels of the future accelerator
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Accelerator Report: Protons are heading towards the LHC
Many activities are currently progressing across the accelerator chain as the complex moves steadily towards full operation