Operation and Configuration of the LHC in Run 2

Between 2015 and 2018 the LHC was operated with protons at beam energies of 6.5 TeV with an integrated production of 160 fb-1 both ATLAS and CMS in proton operation. The peak proton performance exceeded twice the design luminosity thanks to very small transverse beam emittances and beta* of 30 cm. The nominal bunch spacing of 25 ns was used for high intensity operation, initially with the standard 25 ns beam and from 2016 onwards with BCMS and 8b4e beams. New features such as combined ramp and squeeze, crossing angle and levelling as well as ATS optics (Achromatic Telescopic Squeeze) were introduced in regular operation between 2016 and 2018. Lead ion, mixed proton-lead, intermediate proton energy, vdm calibration and high-beta runs were also performed with a large diversity of configurations and beam energies. This note summarizes LHC operation during Run 2 and documents in detail the congurations and performances achieved for the various operation modes.