Computer visualisation of the beam optics in the ALICE experiment for the lead-ion run

A computer visualisation of the beam optics in the ALICE experiment, where the new heavy-ion run optics focuses the colliding beams more strongly than ever before (*=0.5 m). The image shows the two beams inside the beam pipe over a distance of 70 m on either side of the collision point at the heart of the ALICE detector. Bunches of Beam 1 move from left to right inside the blue envelope (an indication of their orbit and transverse size as the beam is modified by the LHC’s bending and focusing magnets). Bunches of Beam 2 travel from right to left inside the red envelope and collide with the bunches of Beam 1 at the collision point, where the beams are focused strongly to a tiny spot to maximise the luminosity.