The LHC machine-experiment interface

This series of three lectures will provide an overview of issues arising at the interface between the LHC machine and the experiments, which are required for guiding the interaction between the collider and the experiments when operation of the LHC commences. A basic description of the LHC Collider and its operating parameters, such as its energy, currents, bunch structure and luminosity, as well as variations on these parameters, will be given. Furthermore, the optics foreseen for the experimental insertions, the sources and intensities of beam losses and the running-in scenarios for the various phases of operation will be discussed. A second module will cover the specific requirements and expectations of each experiment in terms of the layout of experimental areas, the matters related to radiation monitoring and shielding, the design of the beam pipe and the vacuum system, alignment issues and the measurement of the total cross-section and absolute luminosity by the experiments. Finally an analysis of information to be exchanged between the experiments and the accelerator will be presented. Emphasis will be given on describing experimental observables which can provide a measure of the machine operating conditions, such as the interaction vertex position, beam-related backgrounds and the effects of parasitic bunch crossings. These observables will be used by the LHC machine to optimise collisions and by the experiments to protect their detectors against damage due to non-ideal operating conditions of the machine. This series of three lectures will provide an overview of issues arising at the interface between the LHC machine and the experiments, which are required for guiding the interaction between the collider and the experiments when operation of the LHC commences. A basic description of the LHC Collider and its operating parameters, such as its energy, currents, bunch structure and luminosity, as well as variations on these parameters, will be given. Furthermore, the optics foreseen for the experimental insertions, the sources and intensities of beam losses and the running-in scenarios for the various phases of operation will be discussed. A second module will cover the specific requirements and expectations of each experiment in terms of the layout of experimental areas, the matters related to radiation monitoring and shielding, the design of the beam pipe and the vacuum system, alignment issues and the measurement of the total cross-section and absolute luminosity by the experiments. Finally an analysis of information to be exchanged between the experiments and the accelerator will be presented. Emphasis will be given on describing experimental observables which can provide a measure of the machine operating conditions, such as the interaction vertex position, beam-related backgrounds and the effects of parasitic bunch crossings. These observables will be used by the LHC machine to optimise collisions and by the experiments to protect their detectors against damage due to non-ideal operating conditions of the machine.