Upgrades and consolidation of the CERN AD for operation during the next decades

As the ELENA project is now well underway, focus is turned to the Antiproton Decelerator (AD) itself. Most of the machine’s key components are in operation since more than 25 years and a substantial consolidation program is now being launched in view of continued operation beyond 2025. \nOver the course of the next few years a progressive consolidation of the AD Target area, the AD ring and all associated systems will take place. Several investigations have recently been performed in the target area with the objective of establishing the radiation environment and the sensitivity of the antiproton production to potential misalignment of the production elements. Identification of reliability and serviceability issues of the AD ring components and associated systems has been done and will continue during the 2013 shut-down. Planned and on-going consolidation activities are also discussed with emphasis on stochastic and electron beam cooling, instrumentation, RF systems, vacuum, magnets, power converters and beam transfer equipment.