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PS/SPS User Meeting
Description
Minutes of Meeting
The template for the minutes of meeting for the weekly PS & SPS users meeting can always be found using this link: https://codimd.web.cern.ch/0aHs5uqmSPuII76-SaaQdg
Please pre-fill them before the meeting with a summary of your activities!
PS/SPS User Meeting
PS-SPS Users Meeting for Week 23 held on 5 June 2025
Coordinator for this week: Martin Jäkel
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Current PS / SPS User schedule v1.2
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Injector schedule (v1.2, 16.05.) for 2025 is available here: https://edms.cern.ch/document/3057281/latest
EuroLabs : Application are open. Please submit your requests.
Power cut information:
- Power cut announcement for the 23rd June in the North Area, this will affect EHN2, and is likely to impact EHN1 and ECN3. The power cut is requested for the connection of new AUG buttons for AMBER prior to their hydrogen TPC run later this year. The power cut request has been presented at TIOC and will be discussed at the next FOM for approval. Once it is fully approved, a note de coupure will be shared by EN/EL via the usual channels.
- For information only: Surface power cut in buildings 866, 865, 864, 892, 904, 927 on the 14th June (Saturday) from 7am to 12 noon. No impact on EHN1/EHN2/ECN3.
News from the PS & SPS Physics Coordinator
M.R. Jäkel, P. Martinengo
Physics Run 2025 Information
- Physics p+ NA Ends 24.11.2025
- Physics Pb Ion NA 28.11-08.12
- Physics PB Ion EA 17.11-08.12
Newly vacant beam slots :
- SPS H4 - W40 (beam restrictions apply)
Please contact SPS.Physics.Coordinator@cern.ch if you want to apply for any of theses slots.
Reminder: Beam time (main user) exceeding the limits of 2 weeks PS beam time and 1 week SPS beam time per year need the approval of one of these CERN committees: SPSC, LHCC or RB. Endorsment of DRDC or IEFC is a pre-requirement for longer beam time that still needs SPSC approval. Endorsement of beam time by the scientific committie does not guarantee the beam time can be scheduled.
Target intensities:
See below or via ASM (accessible from within the CERN network).
News from the Facilities Operations Meeting (FOM)
Upcoming SPS MDs next weeks :
https://be-dep-ea.web.cern.ch/content/md-planning-north-area
Dedicated SPS MDs - if not anounced differently - are taking place from 8:00 to 18:00
PS Machine Report (Bettina Mikulec & Alex Huschauer)
Issues:
- trip of injection bumper dipole magnet on Saturday
- power converter behaved erratically afterwards, exchanged with the spare but not yet back to nominal performance --> access needed at some point (maybe ITS1)
- major event on Sunday with the issues on the central timing
- took until Monday morning to restart POPS, experts and piquets working Sunday evening and night in all of the accelerators
- SFTPRO:
- optimised beam production in PSB and PS, increased intensity on SPS/NA request (but significantly higher than discussed at last week’s user meeting)
- Ions:
- continue setting up Oxygen cycles, still issues at LEIR-PS transfer (longitudinal emittance and bunch length)
- AD:
- work ongoing to understand performance fluctuations
- EAST:
- no T9 and TN since yesterday - plans?
- do we continue with 15 GeV on T9?
- beam being delivered to T8 as usual
- TOF:
- high flux, adjustment of the parasitic bunch intensities to level flux and EAST performance
SPS Machine Report (Kevin Li)
- After the dipole exchange last week, got back into business quite okay. Hit by another false fire alarm towards the weekend. The timing system glitch took out most of the injectors for long. During this time, the power glitch struck the SPS and took down the BA3 water cooling - it took several hours to fix in order to be able to re-power all systems, and then another couple of hours to recover these systems from the power glitch.
- Beams delivered regularly to LHC - filling overall quite smooth this week
- HiRadMat week running - about half way through the pulse list; quite a few accesses needed
- SFTPRO issues with noise; NA62 detected significant 200 and 800 MHz components since the intensity increase; worked yesterday to fix this - rather hard due to missing diagnostics - a WARNING: we are very close to the agreed limit of 320 units, which still puts us to 3.4e13 ppb in the machine at flat top, somewhat exceeding the limit on extracted intensity
- Incoming:
- EPC test tomorrow with a few 15 minute slots without beam to switch the main power converters
- Next week ions in the SPS!
Safety (James Devine)
- H8b control room barracks (EHN1 ground floor, Saleve side by the Morpurgo magnet) has a large hole in the false floor where users have been running cables into the equipment racks, the area has been taped off and I am following up with the equipment responsibles and BE-EA to reroute the cables and reinstate the floor safely. Please do not remove floor tiles in the control rooms.
- Reminder to fill out your ISIEC forms to register for your safety inspection, fill out the form here (CERN login required, you may need to visit the link twice).
- The summer is coming, here are the clothing guidelines for beam line areas prepared by CERN HSE. In summary, long trousers or leggings are required in all areas where safety shoes are mandatory (inc. beam lines). Short sleeves (t-shirts) are permitted depending upon the type of activity. Vest style/singlets with exposed shoulders are not permitted.
- Monday 9th June is a CERN holiday, the EP Safety Office is not available for ISIEC inspections.
TT42 Main: n_TOF (Alice Manna, Paolo M Milazzo)
No issues from the experimental side.
Long data taking on:
• EAR1: measurement of Cu(n, tot) reaction, a fission chamber based on 235U samples is used
• EAR2: micromegas detector for the study of 236U(n, f) reaction.
• NEAR: Activation measurements.
East Area Beam Status (J. Bernhard, replaced by N. Charitonidis)
On call phone number: 67500
T9: Good operation. Beam stopped to T09 on 03.06. WCTE deinstallation ongoing until 11.06.
T10: Good operation.
T11: No user.
East Area Users Tour de Table
T8 Main: IRRAD_CHARM (F. Ravotti / S. Fiore)
Good week. Despite the power glitch (Sun-Mon), we received on T8 an amount of beam similar to the previous week (~2.4E16 p/w) as shown by the plot below. As expected, the reference TID in CHARM is lower this week because the test-rack was located in R10 (farthest from the target than the usual R13 used by most of the CHARM users) and for most of the time, shieldings were used to shape the mix-field composition for specific user needs.
From Tuesday we started observing slow drifts on the beam center position, probably T-induced, (see red line in the figure below) that needed the intervention of the CCC for re-steering. This is also confirmed by he weekly statistics of the beam center, now down to the level of ~86-88%.
On the Wednesday access slot: in IRRAD we completed EXFlu (Development of radiation resistant LGADs for timing) linked to DRD3 WG5 and we installed LHCb VELO (ceramic LTCC sample). ATLAS ITkPix v2 – Triplet for TE-MSC (polymers in inert gas and ambient air) and epoxy resins in ambient air. 31 experiments registered so far in the IRRAD Data Manager: 200 samples ongoing/completed and about 1000 samples declared!
In CHARM we removed setups by CMS and CAEN HV and LV power supply systems, and we started new tests for SY-RF PS amplifiers, and ATLAS RPC
We continue running until Wednesday, with the possibility to use the cool-down time (next Wed. nignt from midnight/3am) for performing measurements with the low momentum or Oxygen-ion beams. This will be confirmed beginning of next week and announced via the planning e-group.
T9 Main: WCTE (Bruno Ferrazzi)
- The beam data-taking has concluded, with the final mode of operation in Gd doping.
- A first analysis focused on proton-induced neutron production, using positron data to estimate the background.
- A clear neutron-induced signal was observed, with the neutron capture time measured at 72 µs.
- Neutron yield was estimated to be approximately 0.24 neutrons per proton at a beam energy of 1000 MeV.
T9 Incoming Main: E+BOOST (Nicola Canale – Cernphone 69249)
We aim to perform three diffrent measurements exploiting the coherent effects of crystals:
- the radiation production using a thin W crystal (~0.3 mm)
- the angular spread and the multiple scattering effects of the thin W crystal (~0.3 mm)
- the positron production enhancement usinga thicker configuration (~12mm)
We simplified the setup from last meeting (-1 moving table), ASM updated and Aboubakr informed.
We confrim the need for the DESY table, the XSCA and the height movable table at the end of the line.
The MDX-80 mm gap the distances can be placed at the same distance as last year (~7m from the end of the line) extra power cable will be needed (but Aboubakr confirmed that it’s already being sorted out)
- extra beam requested: low momenta positron (100-500 MeV/c), we will be in air and we are aware of problems, but vacuum would not be compatible with our setup since we need beamline instrumentation as the XCETs (Dipanwita informed).
ISIEC was submitted on 25/05/2025 (ID 1608)
Time Schedule estimation:
- Wednesday the 11th we will proceed with the installation of the setup.
- Safety requested on 11/06/2025 at 16.30.
- After the safety clearance we will start with the calibration
- In the evening we plan to start the physics run
T10 Outgoing Main: P349+ (D. Grzonka, H. Xu, V. Verhoeven)
Test of Cherenkov Veto detector (Aerogel threshold): success, reduction of pion background approx. factor 100
Test of DIRC: problems with light tightness
T10 Main: ALICE_ITS3 (Paolo Martinengo)
Installation completed yesterday before noon
Added second telescope (last minute)
Still debugging, hope to get beam before evening
T10 Incoming Main: SHIP TD (Gerardo Vasquez)
Timing detector for SHiP experiment.
Scintillating bars coupled to SiPM, readout on both side of the bar.
Main goal of TB:
- Test FASTIC+ readout boards
- Compare different # photons/mip on two different Scintillating bars with two type of SiPM to test: Hammamatsu S14 and Broadcam C14 (6x6mm^2)
- Measure time resolution at different position of the bar.
Hazards
Due to the simplicity of the technology there are no present hazards, no moving pards.
BEAM
Beam required: we would like to start with muons the first two days, and later on move on pions to have a more focused beam. Beam spot requested 2cm. We would like to request a 1cm spot as well.
Safety Visit
ISIEC form filled some minutes ago, ID 1625. Visit requested at 4:15pm, but we might be ready before.
Experiment contact: Gerardo Vasquez - 167082
North Area Beam Status (J. Bernhard, replaced by N. Charitonidis)
On call phone number: 67500
H2/H4/H6/H8/M2/P42/K12: Good operation, no issues in all lines!
TT66 Main: HIRADMAT (A. Goillot, N. Charitonidis)
HRMT-68 experiment is ongoing. From the machine side, excellent flexibility and no issues. From the experimental side a few hick-ups necessitating accesses in TNC/TT61 but now the majority of the program has been completed.
TT41 Outgoing Main: AWAKE (M. Bergamaschi)
- Third and last week of Second proton run. Starting dismantling and entering LS3.
- Physics program advanced despite some down time due to magnet exchange on SPS on Monday/Tuesday and Sunday timing system problem across the complex
TELMAX Main: PAX (Please insert your name)
North Area Users Tour de Table
H2 Main: NA61_SHINE (Aleksandr Dmitriev)
We finished with PSD(calorimeter) calibration. The run was succesfull. Thanks to all people have been involved.
We are preparing the detector for the next run, which is measurement with DUNE prototype (carbon) target of 1.5m length. We’d like to measure interactions with proton beam of 120 GeV/c with beam intensity at S1 of 40-50k. It would be ideally for us to start tobay evening or tommorow.
H4 Main: NA64e (Vladimir Poliakov)
Smooth data taking, when SPS was ON.
We recorded around 95k spills and accumulated around 4.2x10^11 EoT.
H6 Main: ATLAS_HGTD (Stefano Manzoni)
Installation and Safety Check: Completed yesterday successfully.
Testbeam Plan:
We aim to take data with three HGTD modules in parallel, using both:
- A standard simplified DAQ system used the whole last year during teastbeam
- The full readout chain based on FELIX.
There has been some delay related to the FELIX-based setup due to additional complexity.
We are currently targeting to start data-taking by lunchtime today.
H6 Main: DRD3 (Marcos Fernandez)
This is the first DRD3 “official” testbeam. It is composed of 3 different groups, sequentially accesing the beam.
First group (INFN Torino) came last wednesday and left by Saturday, slightly earlier than programmed (Sunday night). They measured DC-RSD LGADs (timing detectors candidates for so-called 4D tracking concept). They removed the standard coldbox in H6B and used their own one. By experience, dismantling is faster than mounting it back, so we had some downtime on monday for re-installation and alignment. This is probably the last time this swapping should happen since a new AIDAINNOVA coldbox and chiller is supposed to be installed soon in H6B and all users should adapt to it. All in all, they took good deal of data with stable beams.
Second group, IFCA-Santander, is in place since Monday. We had several people helping with installation on Monday but then we are now working with reduced manpower due to the overlap of this testbeam with the DRD3 collaboration meeting in Amsterdam. We are progressing steadily but slowly. No data taking started yet. We are waiting for the users in H6A to close the beam so we can alingn our DUTs. IFCA is measuring TI-LGADs, making use of the standard coldbox.
Third group, Brown university has sent their DUTs (and one student) in advance. We agreed to merge one of their DUTs into the current second group’s setup so we can measure both at the same time. IFCA removes one of their DUTs but gains few days extra of data taking with the other installed DUTs. Brown measures only one detector but gains as well extra days of data taking for it.
Finally, the parasitic ETROC “suitcase” setup is still data taking behind the telescope as it was during last weeks.
DRD3 would like to thank Maarten and Lauri for their excellent user’s support during this data taking period. Your help is very much appreciated!
H6 Incoming Parallel: PICSEL (Serhiy Senyukov)
The setup will consist of small ALICE Aplide telescope and one MAPS DUT.
Telescope assembly and commissioning is in progress in Meyrin.
Transport to Prevessin by our means in the morning of 11 June.
ISIEC form was submitted on 20 May. Safety visit requested on 11 June at 16:00
H8 Outgoing Main: LHCB (Efrén Rodríguez Rodríguez)
During this testbeam campaign, both the RICH and Timepix4 telescope teams conducted extensive data-taking efforts aimed at validating novel sensor technologies and readout systems. The testbeam was structured to accommodate a wide range of setups and user groups, enabling the parallel evaluation of multiple detector concepts with high-precision timing and tracking capabilities.
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RICH Team
Time resolution measurements were carried out using various photon sensors connected to prototype front-end electronics. These included silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) arrays, multi-anode photomultiplier tubes (MAPMTs), and an MCP-based large-area picosecond photon detector (LAPPD), all successfully measured on beam. Preliminary analyses confirm good data quality, with time resolutions on the order of 100 ps. Cherenkov photons were generated using two configurations: a borosilicate lens (setup 1) and an aerogel radiator (setup 2). The LHCb track time reference system remained stable throughout the campaign, with timestamps recorded via two picoTDC ASICs offering an intrinsic resolution of approximately 30 ps. -
Timepix4 Telescope Team
The Timepix4 telescope campaign was divided into two main phases. The first week focused on operating three assemblies as DUTs, featuring both iLGADs and 3D sensors, with high-quality data successfully acquired. In parallel, the GEMpix team participated as external users, installing their detectors downstream of the telescope and using its tracking and timing infrastructure to test two types of sensors.
The second week was dedicated to the commissioning of a new DUT setup based on the Optima readout system, aimed at evaluating new silicon sensors for potential future LHC upgrades. This configuration included three Optima boards with ROI sensors, read out via a SAMPIC DAQ system. The setup was fully integrated and operated stably, allowing data collection from four different sensor samples, including 3D structures and, for the first time in a testbeam setting, SiEm-like devices.
Simultaneously, the telescope’s central DUT position was occupied by the TDCpix team—one of the first external users of the system—who conducted an extensive testing campaign and evaluated a total of eight sensors with full tracking support.
Results from this campaign are currently under analysis and are expected to be highly promising for the development of next-generation detector systems.
Despite the limited beam time, as previously reported, sincere thanks go to the accelerator team for their quick interventions and ongoing support. Special thanks also to Bastien Rae and Maarten Van Dijk for accommodating the specific beam profiles needs, which helped ensure the success of key measurements.
H8 Main: UA9 (Francesca Galluccio)
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UA9 finished installation yesterday.
Many thanks to M. Lazzaroni who solved very quickly some unexpected logistic problems we found in PPE128. -
Recommissioning of the detector is going on.
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Plan to start taking real data this evening or latest tomorrow.
For the handover to STI we agreed with L.S. Esposito that we will decide later on which is the most convenient time for both of us.
It will require a few hours of beam OFF as we have completely different hardware this year. We might for example profit of the Dedicated MDs on the 17th
K12-P42 Main: NA62 (Joel Swallow & Roberto Piandani)
Smooth data-taking when beam is present.
Took a bit of time to recover after the power cut. 4 magnets had (power coverter?) issues. SPS ready at ~16:30 it took us until ~22:30 to start data-taking.
We see some variation in beam intensity by ~20-30% (especially when super-cycle changes). Optimal for us is “XION.101.266” to count 1.4e9 (but not more than ~1.5e9), corresponds to ‘about 19 on T10’ but we know that the monitor for T10 has aged and depends on where beam spot hits and is less accurate than the XION.101.266 counts.
Thanks for the good reaction of operators and experts to our problems and requests.
M2 Main: MUONE (Aldo Arena)
It was a challenging two-week time because of the many problems with the beam that made difficult to commissioning the detectors. The last 24-48h we are exponentially progressing in the commissioning. The ECAL has beam synchronized to the main DAQ.
Also we solved the problem of the chiller since the new chiller arrived last week.
The laser of the holographic interferometry monitor stopped suddenly to work.
There are still synchronization problem between tracker modules but we are progressing.
Works of alignment and further optimizations are ongoing.
Here is a preliminary test of the sync between ECAL and tracker using 40 GeV electron beam
H6 Parasitic: DRD3 DIAMOND (Please insert your name)
H6 Incoming Parasitic: CMS MTD ETL (Giacomo Zecchinelli)
The main goal of next week test beam is to compare timing resolution between
2 different CMS ETL FE prototypes. We will take multiple runs with same sensors mounted to the different readout boards at various conditions.
We will also use the AIDA tracker to measure the hit reconstruction efficiency of the ETL modules and test a new DAQ firmware which enable self triggering capabilities.
We plan to start installing on Wednesday morning and have the safety check in the afternoon of the same day (safety check reservation in progress).
H8 Outgoing Parasitic: ATLAS_TILECAL (Giulio Usai)
We continue preparation work on the setup and test/timing set. Will continue staing in the AREA this week (W23) with CMS FSC and if accepted we can stay also in the following two weeks (W24 and W25) if the area is not used by other parallel users. Otherwise we will need to move to garage position since we will need some extensive access time to the table for same maintenace.
H8 Parasitic: STRAW_TRACKER_RD (Please insert your name)
H8 Parasitic: CMS FSC (Please insert your name)
M2 Parasitic: AMBER (Nikolay Anfimov)
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Minutes by the respective speakers, edited by M. Jäkel and M. Malkin
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