Speaker
Description
The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) operations began in 2008. Its superconducting equipment requires a cooldown/warm-up cycle lasting several months to access some key elements like superconducting magnets, making annual shutdowns impractical. A new lifecycle management approach for programmed stops was therefore necessary. The large interventions were grouped and performed during long shutdowns. They include maintenance, consolidation and upgrades. Long Shutdowns typically last about three years and are scheduled every six years. Since the LHC depends on its chain of preceding injectors, this approach was extended to the entire CERN accelerator complex This paper briefly outlines the methodology used to plan, prepare and coordinate these shutdowns and presents the interventions and main upgrades planned for the upcoming LS3, scheduled to start mid-2026. The paper will highlight various projects, especially HL-LHC installations, aimed at improving safety, performance, and operational availability as well as implementing new technologies and providing new facilities for the particle physics community.
| Region represented | Europe |
|---|---|
| Paper preparation format | Word |
