Effects of PACMAN bunches in the LHC

The maximum achievable luminosity in the LHC is mainly limited by beam-beam effects. The large number of bunches and their head-on and long range interactions determine the maximum allowable bunch intensity. Furthermore, the arrangement of bunches in the LHC ring imply further complications: the beam-beam effects on a given particle depend on its bunch position in the LHC bunch train and result in the appearance of so-called PACMAN bunches which can have a different dynamic behaviour and life time. The consequences of the existence of such PACMAN bunches are presented and possible procedures to minimize or avoid detrimental effects are discussed.