PcInterlock: Implementation and Operational Experience with the Optics Interlock

In 2016 the luminosity reach of the LHC was increased by reducing the β-function in the main collision points below the design value to β∗ = 40 cm. This was possible due to a review of the margins in the collimation hierarchy followed by the implementation of additional measures to ensure the phase advance in defined ranges around the circumference. The risk of damaging the triplet or the tertiary collimators (TCTs) close to the interaction points in the event of an asynchronous beam dump is minimized by including margins in the collimation hierarchy, which define the β∗-reach. By guaranteeing the phase advance within an acceptable tolerance between the beam dump kicker and the TCTs, those margins can be reduced and operation at lower β∗ becomes possible. A new interlock system on the quadrupole magnet currents was put in place to safeguard the stability of the phase advance. This note describes the technical implementation of this power-converter interlock (PcInterlock) and the strategies used to derive appropriated tolerances to allow sufficient protection without risking false beam dump triggers. The experience with the new PcInterlock settings in 2016-18 are discussed.