The upgrade work begins


The SLHC-PP comprises coordinating, support and technical activities. The coordinating activities are arguably most important at the moment and will play a central role as plans are drawn up for the new accelerator- and detector-upgrade collaborations. They will help put in place project structures and collaboration management tools. Ultimately, the aim is for agreement on work-sharing and funding for the implementation phase.

The activities are divided into a number of projects, or work packages. There are eight such work packages, including one to co-ordinate the activities of the remaining seven.

 

Proton injection: the sLHC

If the main LHC ring is to carry more protons then the injector system will need a major overhaul

 

Improving the CMS detector

CMS, the heaviest particle detector ever constructed, will lose some weight in the luminosity upgrade

Upgrading the ATLAS detector

ATLAS will have to undergo a major overhaul as it is prepared for use in the LHC upgrade

 

Radiation and safety

Increasing by ten the number of particle collisions in the LHC brings its own problems

 

Magnets for an intense beam

Natural wear and tear means the LHC magnets will soon need replacing - new and better magnets will be used

 

The LHC toboggan run

The Superconducting Proton Linac will rapidly accelerate the subatomic particles on their way towards the main ring.

 

Powering the new components

The detectors will need more power to monitor ten times as many collisions, but there's no extra space to work with