LHC Beam Vacuum Evolution During 2015 Machine Operation

The LHC successfully returned to operation in April, 2015 after almost 2 years of Long Shutdown 1 (LS1) for various upgrade and consolidation programs. During 2015 operation, the LHC operated for more than 1000 fills. The 2015 LHC proton physics ended with 2244 bunches per beam circulating with 25 ns bunch spacing at top energy of 6.5 TeV. This paper summarizes the dynamic vacuum observations in different locations along the LHC during dedicated fills as well as during physics runs with both 50 ns and 25 ns bunch spacing. The causes for the dynamic pressure rises are investigated and are presented. A clear beam conditioning effect is observed, as well as a so-called de-conditioning effect. Furthermore, for the experimental areas, the dynamic pressure evolution is also presented.