Smooth and beta-beating-free optics transitions for HL-LHC

In the CERN LHC, optics transitions are mainly required to control the beam size at the four experimental interaction points. The current method, based on linearly-interpolated optics functions over a small set of matched optics and parabolic time-domain segments, introduces non-zero beta-beating and it is not optimal in time. This contribution presents an alternative approach, based on continuously-matched optics solutions distributed in time domain by using a realistic model of the superconducting circuits, which optimises the overall process duration. This method requires a change in the paradigm used in the control system and it is proposed for the future High Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) runs.