Choose timezone
Your profile timezone:
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 24 held on 12 June 2025
Coordinator for this week: Martin Jäkel
-
Current PS / SPS User schedule v1.2
(version 1.2.1 to be release later today) -
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 has now been confirmed by TIOC + FOM (and we have confirmed AMS have no sentitive activities on the 23rd). A power cut notice (NdC) will be issued soon by EN/EL.
- For information : 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 (Ewen Hamish Maclean)
- Good availability Thu-Thu = 98%
- Fast recovery from electrical glitch over weekend
- Significant (but non-blocking issue) Tue-Wed when IT mistakenly undeployed server used Longitudal Beam Observation - OP team worked around and new server running now.
- Continuing work on settup/optimization of ION cycles
- T9 24GeV cycle resurected on Tuesday - various optimizations for losses on tuesday, then continuing optimization of the extraction Thu morning.
SPS Machine Report (A. Spierer)
- Availability Thu to Thu: 55%
- Main faults:
- QNL coil temperature 06.06 - no beam during investigations and reduced intensity on T6 since then
- Vaccuum leak on main dipole 10.06 - access system issues during investigation and replacement of the magnet
- Main faults:
- Expected recovery 12.06 at 11h
- Ion commissionning shifted by two days, now Thursday + Friday, expect slightly reduced duty cycle (short cycles)
- Intensity considerations:
- Incoming (next week):
- Dedicated ion commissioning Tue 16.06
- SFTPRO in the supercycle
- LHC MD preparation on Wed 17.06 and then LHC MD1 bloc
- SFTPRO in the supercycle
- Dedicated ion commissioning Tue 16.06
Safety (J. Devine)
- Power cuts - see warning at the top of the page.
- If you need to complete your ISIEC form, the link is here (CERN login required, you may need to visit the page twice).
- Summer weather - reminder that long trousers/leggins are needed anywhere that safety shoes are required (i.e. all beam line zones). See EDMS 2193556.
- How long is my safety clearance valid for?
- ISIEC = Max 3 weeks, can be renewed for another 3 weeks.
- ISD = Max 1 year, inspection required before the restart of activities for each new year.
- Examples - for a classic test beam, the ISIEC is generally the best option. For a beam telescope or larger experiment that runs for more of the year (e.g. ATLAS MALTA telescope, NA61, NA64 etc)
- In any case, if you make a substantial modification to your setup (e.g. adding a new detector, a new mechanical structure, new chiller etc) an updated safety inspection is required.
TT42 Main: n_TOF (Alice Manna, Paolo M Milazzo)
Smooth 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.
Next week change of measurement in EAR1: 40Ar(n, g) with c6D6 detectors
East Area Beam Status (B. Rae)
On call phone number: 
67500
T9: Beam preliminary checked for EBoost. Further checks ongoing. The timing box was triggering on T10 last night which has been fixed.
T10: Collimator T10.XCHV022 became stuck (out of the beam) last Friday preventing beam file loading. After inspection, the clutch between the motor and the jaw was found to be loose. It was quickly repaired and it total there was 2.5h of downtime (1h for the whole East Area due to access). There were no other problems.
T11: No user.
East Area Users Tour de Table
T8 Main: IRRAD_CHARM (F. Ravotti / S. Fiore)
Excellent week! We received on T8 the highest amount of beam w.r.t. the previos weeks this year (~3.3E16 p/w as shown below), for the benefit of all current running experiments in both areas targeting high fluence or TID levels. The reference TID in CHARM is also well achieved.
The slow drift of the beam center was still observed during the week but now promptly corrected when spotted by us and the CCC crew as shown from the data below (back to >~94% of well centered spills this week):
On the Wednesday access slot: in IRRAD we continue / exchange samples and dosimetry for 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.
In CHARM we continue experiments by ATLAS RPC and SY-RF, modified setups by BE-CEM
We continue running until Wednesday, with the possibility to use some time on Tue. 17th in the afternoon and the cool-down time (Wed. night from 0am/3am) for performing measurements with the low momentum and/or Oxygen-ion beams in T8. This will be confirmed beginning of next week and announced via the planning e-group.
From the beginning of the year:
T9 Outgoing Main: WCTE (L.Anthony, M.Ziembicki)
- The last set of laser ball calibration data taken on June 6th - data is being analysed to check overall charge response of the detector
- The calibration system was removed from the tank lid and the detector was drained on June 7th (presented last week)
- Over the weekend, the control room was cleared as well as removing small items from T9
- From June 9th, cable management began for the multi-PMTs in preparation for the removal of the detector lid and full disassembly
- on June 10th, the detector was removed from the water tank and both tank and structure placed into the free area of B157
- Disassembly will continue over the next 2 weeks in the cordoned area of B157
- We are in the process of getting all equipment scanned for release by RP
T9 Main: E+BOOST (Nicola Canale)
We complete the installation, now that we have the proper spill triggering we will start with alignement and calibrations.
T10 Outgoing Main: ALICE_ITS3 (Paolo Martinengo)
Excellent week, with excellent beam
We agreed with SHIP to stay till tomorrow (Friday) morning
then they can stay till the TS
Thanks a lot to Abou & C. for the flexibility
T10 Main: SHIP TD (Please insert your name)
North Area Beam Status (B. Rae)
On call phone number: 67500
General: From Thursday, a coil temperature issue with a quadrupole in P42 caused a major downtime in the North Area. After radiation cooldown and several accesses to the TCC2 target cavern on Friday, the problem went away by itself. As the magnet is very close to the T6/M2 TAX, which is very radioactive, we needed to stay for a few days on lower intensity for T6 just in case the problem would return. The magnet is stable for now, so we can get back to the nominal intensity on T6.
H2: Good operation. Issues with the CEDAR of NA61 have been mitigated by SY/BI, final validation with beam pending today.
H4/H6/H8: No issues and good operation.
M2: Intensity on T6 reduced to 30 units after start-up following the P42 magnet intervention (to keep activation minimal). MUonE was in commissioning so the intensity reached with 30 units was ok. Otherwise good operation. Intensity increase to 150 units to be confirmed after commissioning by MUonE is completed following the beam start-up today (likely tomorrow).
P42/K12: Stable operation besides quadrupole issue.
TT66 Main: HIRADMAT (A. Goillot)
TELMAX Main: PAX (N. Paul)
PAX is completing second set of data taking, this is the first time where we have achieved high statistics spectra for the antiprotonic Zr cascade. Rate of data taking was greatly improved by the development of 20s long spill (instead of 10s previously). This doubles our rate of physics data, however there was some problem with this long cycle interfering with the AD cycle timing. This is under investigation, we hope that it should be fixed soon because once fixed it will allow us optimal data taking in a way that doesn’t bother the trapping experiments.
Otherwise the TES detector test is highly successful. We find that the dynamical gain drift is directly proportional to the incident beam (and thus pion) intensity, and we were able to tune down the intensity with the AD team successfully in conjunction with the 20s cycle.
This run should stop on Friday, June 13th.
Next steps : A 169Yb source will be made at ISOLDE at the end of June to allow us to follow more accurately the beam-induced gain drift. This source may be used in conjunction with a second set of data taking on Si and Au targets during 2 weeks in July (to be confirmed).
North Area Users Tour de Table
H2 Main: NA61_SHINE (E. Zimmerman, B. Maksiak)
Physics data taking not started yet. Only magnetic field off calibration data was taken so far.
Minor issues:
- Problems with new CAEN power supply behaving erratically. Few hours lost. Although no problems in recent days.
- Problems with setting up counters - we had to break vacuum in order to fix them - thanks to Philippe for quick response.
- Problems with calibrating delay wire chambers
Major blocking issue: waiting for servicing of CEDAR for one week already
H4 Main: NA64e (L. Molina Bueno)
We continue data taking with 100 GeV electrons. Currently, we have about 5x10^11 EOT. We plan to move next week to 70 GeV positrons.
H4 Incoming Parallel: POKER (P. Bisio)
The goal of the POKER run is to characterize the performances of the “PKR-CAL” electromagnetic calorimeter, designed for light dark matter search with a positron-beam, missing-energy measurement. The “PKR-CAL” detector design is based on a 9x9 matrix of PbWO44 crystals, each 20×20×220mm320×20×220mm3, with SiPM readout. A pre-shower section with two layers of 20×20×200mm320×20×200mm3 crystals, aligned perpendicularly to the impinging beam direction, is installed in front of the matrix, to enhance the detector hermeticity and allow for a better impact point determination.
The POKER run is performed in parallel to the on-going NA64e run. POKER will be integrated in the NA64 setup, replacing the current NA64-ECAL.
-
The main goal of the beam test is to measure the “PKR-CAL” response to positron beams with different energy, in the range between 20 and 100 GeV, ideally at 10 GeV steps (20 is also fine). The nominal beam intensity will be ≈5106≈5106 particles/spill. The correlation with the impinging particle trajectory, measured by the NA64 tracking system, will allow a thoughtful study of the detector energy resolution as a function of the particle impact point on the detector.
-
The second goal is to run a pilot positron-beam, missing energy measurement at 70 GeV/c. Given the available time for the overall measurement, we expect to accumulate data for 2 (max 3) days - assuming ≈3000≈3000 spills/day, an overall statistics of about 3×10103×1010 positrons-on-target is expected.
The installation of PKR-CAL calorimeter in the PPE144 beam area started today, to benefit from the extended no-beam time.
The detector was moved by crane on the side of the current NA64 setup, switched off, ready for the final installation and commissioning on Wednsday 18th.
- ISIEC form has been submitted, safety visit planned on Wednsday 18th.
- Laser safety inspection for the PKR-CAL laser monitoring system is also expected on Wednsday 18th.
H6 Outgoing Main: DRD3 (Please insert your name)
H6 Main: ATLAS_HGTD (Stefano Manzoni)
- Successfully collected data over the long weekend using three HGTD modules.
- Calibrated a new batch, including two previously measured modules and one new module; ready to acquire data using the simplified DAQ system.
- Planning to transition to the full readout system tomorrow, utilizing the official Peripheral Electronics Board and FELIX.
- Weekend/early next week testing focused on an irradiated single hybrid (ASIC + irradiated LGAD).
H6 Incoming Main: EP_PIXEL (Dominik Dannheim)
- Plan for high-rate (ca. 4E6/spill) narrow-beam (<~1 cm2) testing as in previous beam periods.
- Telescope is ready for data taking.
- Safety clearance scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
- DUTs for this beam period:
- H2M thinned to 15 microns
- Timepix3 with Ti-LGAD sensor --> will be left installed for parasitic data taking after technical stop.
H6 Parallel: PICSEL (Serhiy Senyukov)
Telescope is installed and ready for the beam.
H8 Main: UA9 (Francesca Galluccio)
Commissioning went pretty smoothly.
On Friday “No beam before Tuesday morning” was announced.
On Saturday we had the good news that NA was resuming.
We had to call back the team and
Finally data taking started in the afternoon of Saturday 7th.
We were planning to handover the area to STI next Tuesday.
H8 Incoming Main: STI (L.S. Esposito)
Installation planned on Tuesday during the Dedicated O Commissioning.
The setup consists of a Timepix telescope with four detectors along beam-axis and a goniometer to position the DUT (silicon bent crystal) on the beam.
The objective is to fully commission the telescope for bent crystal later in the summer to aim at installation in the SPS during YETS25-26,
with the objective to reduce the losses during the slow extraction toward the North Area.
ISIEC form submitted and proposed time for the safety inspection on Tuesday at 16:00. To be confirmed.
The telescope was tested in October last year and was fully compliant with safety.
We request the vacuum pipe be reinstalled only in the location in front of the access door on the concrete block (communicated to M. Lazzaroni via ASM).
K12-P42 Main: NA62 (Lubos Bician)
- We appreciate the quick resolution of the P42 quadrupole magnet issue – took good data during the weekend and on Monday. We’re awaiting beam after the BA2 vacuum leak fix and magnet replacement.
- Sometimes we experience beam intensity fluctuations by ~20% (mostly around SC change) and occasional intensity bump/spike at the start of burst (usually solved quickly after CCC is informed).
- Our optimal running conditions are “XION.101.266” to count 1.4e9 (but not more than ~1.5e9), which corresponds to ‘about 19 on T10’ (less precise measurement)
M2 Main: MUONE (Aldo Arena)
With the limited beam time with had during this week, we are progressing with the commissioning.
Now, when the beam will be back we will need roughly 24h to finish the commissioning with low intensity beam.
After that, we will need high intensity beam to start the physics run.
H6 Outgoing Parasitic: DRD3 DIAMOND (Please insert your name)
H6 Parasitic: CMS MTD ETL (Giacomo Zecchinelli)
- Due to fire alarm in H6 we could access the area only after lunch
- Installation finished on Wednesday afternoon and safety clearence issued at 18.00
- We found a forced door left behind by the previous team (and forced open againg this morning by mistake)
- Ready to take data when beam arrives
- Goal of the week is to take several runs at different conditions with the aim of comparing timing performances with 2 different prototypes of the CMS ETL FE boards
H8 Outgoing Parasitic: CMS FSC (Suat Ozkorucuklu)
Purpose
- Measure response with MIP
- Choose HV
- FSC Calibration
Scan 1 - counter 1
- Continue this week with scan of 4 more counters (10-14h each)
H8 Parasitic: STRAW_TRACKER_RD (Please insert your name)
M2 Parasitic: AMBER (Nikolay Anfimov)
No news
AoB
Minutes by the respective speakers, edited by M. Jäkel and M. Malkin
There are minutes attached to this event.
Show them.
