Exploiting the Undesired: Beam-Gas Interactions in the LHC

The vacuum inside the LHC pipes has a key role in correct operation of the accelerator. The interaction of the beam with residual gas in the pipes can lead to the loss of the beam itself and damage accelerator components. Nevertheless, beam-gas interactions can be exploited to indirectly measure the gas pressure inside the beam pipe, detecting the secondaries produced. The showers generated are detected by Beam Loss Monitors, whose signals depend on the gas pressure. This technique would also allow to punctually measure the gas pressure in sections of the accelerator where vacuum gauges are not frequent, such as the arcs. The problem has been addressed by means of FLUKA simulations and the results have been benchmarked with direct measurements performed in the LHC in 2011.