Fully transparent LHC

Thanks to the first real signals received from the LHC while in operation before the incident, the experiments are now set to make the best use of the data they have collected. Report from the LHCC open session.

The September open session of the LHCC (LHC Experiments Committee) came just a few days after the incident that occurred at the LHC. The packed auditorium was a testament to the huge interest raised by Lyn Evans’ talk about the status of the machine and the plans for the future.

After being told that the actual consequences of the incident will be clear only once Sector 3-4 has been warmed up, the audience focussed on the reports from the experiments. For the first time, the reports showed performance results of the various detectors with particles coming from the machine and not just from cosmic rays or tests and simulations.

"The first days of LHC beam exceeded all expectations and the experiments made extensive and rapid use of the data they collected", says Terry Wyatt, LHCC Chairman. "Projects of such magnitude cannot be achieved without setbacks and, although we now face an unwanted shutdown, the experiments are already planning how they will make the most effective possible use of the available time."

The LHCC open sessions are unique occasions for key people from both the accelerator and the experiments to report on current activities. The talks are open to all at CERN and are webcast to reach a wider audience. They take place every two months and are set to become a must-see event in the months to come.

Material (both presentations and video) from the September open session of the LHCC is available at:

http://indico.cern.ch/conferenceDisplay.py?confId=40697

Next LHCC open session on Wednesday 19 November 2008.