Machine Protection and Operation for LHC

TL;DR

This paper discusses how the Large Hadron Collider manages machine protection and operation, focusing on the challenges posed by its high stored energy and the safety considerations during various operational phases.

Contribution

It provides an overview of the interplay between machine operation and protection strategies at the LHC from commissioning to regular running.

Findings

High stored energy requires advanced protection systems.

Operational safety is critical during all phases of LHC operation.

Protection strategies evolve from commissioning to full operation.

Abstract

Since 2010 the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is the accelerator with the highest stored energy per beam, with a record of 140 MJ at a beam energy of 4 TeV, almost a factor of 50 higher than other accelerators. With such a high stored energy, machine protection aspects set the boundary conditions for operation during all phases of the machine cycle. Only the low-intensity commissioning beams can be considered as relatively safe. This document discusses the interplay of machine operation and machine protection at the LHC, from commissioning to regular operation.