Sector 3-4 repairs progressing

On 28 November the first replacement magnet for sector 3-4 was about to be lowered into the LHC tunnel.

The first replacement magnet for Sector 3-4 underwent its final preparations before being lowered into the tunnel on 28 November. This is a good indication of the progress being made on the repairs to the sector damaged on 19 September. Around a hundred CERN personnel and external contractors are engaged in the repair work and tests. By the time the Laboratory closes for the Christmas break, all the magnets needing to be repaired or simply needing to be cleaned (around fifty at most) will have been brought to the surface.

The teams are conducting tests to ensure that such an incident does not reoccur. Almost the entire machine has now been tested, with new tests having been developed and additional instrumentation being deployed.

The schedule for the LHC re-start in 2009 is being drawn up and will be announced during the Council’s December Session.