Aperture and optics–measurements and conclusions

In 2011, the LHC has delivered collisions with different optics configurations in the four interaction points, at an operating energy of 3.5 TeV. The performance has been pushed during the year until a final configuration with 3 IPs squeezed to 1 m was achieved. Correspondingly, the machine aperture has been measured in the different configurations at injection and at top energy, to ensure a safe operation in all conditions of $\beta^*$ and crossing angle configuration. In this paper, the 2011 commissioning experience of LHC optics is reviewed and the results of aperture measurements are presented. Measurement requirements for 2012 and possible improvements are also discussed.