The LHC injector chain has been switched to a new beam production scheme to explore its potential to produce more collisions in the LHC and to compare its performance to that of the standard LHC beam

The LHC is performing well and the injector complex is treating its experimental users to a high level of beam availability

In the last two weeks, the LHC teams have encountered two main challenges that have led to some changes to the filling scheme

Almost the whole accelerator complex is now in “physics mode”, routinely delivering the various types of beam to the different physics facilities and experiments. Notably, the intensity ramp-up in the LHC is progressing remarkably well

Beam commissioning is progressing well across the entire accelerator complex, but challenges have arisen, in particular in Linac4, highlighting the complexities involved

On 8 March, three days ahead of schedule, the first proton beam was injected into the LHC, kicking off the 2024 LHC beam commissioning

The injection of the first protons into the LHC is scheduled for 11 March, but could be brought forward by a few days if all goes well

A new physics run is about to begin! The first particle beams should reach the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) on 11 March

The first beams are already circulating in the Linac4 and PS Booster and should reach the LHC on 11 March. A new physics run is about to begin!

The year-end technical stop (YETS) officially started on 30 October, with promising performance tests in Linac4. The injection of the first 2024 LHC beam is scheduled for 11 March 2024

Another few days and the last 2023 LHC beams will be dumped, hopefully by the machine protection system following a controlled magnet quench

Since the last Accelerator Report, lead-ion beams have been successfully provided to the SPS North Area, in particular to the NA61 experiment, which is their principal user