The HL-LHC project is progressing in the construction phase. The hardware models as well as the prototypes of equipment in their final configuration are under construction or under test. In 2017, we achieved a number of key milestones. The crab cavity prototypes for the SPS tests were successfully tested in the USA and at CERN in vertical test stands and the first low impedance collimators were tested and characterized in the LHC machine. The test of the first long prototype of the MQXF quadrupole for the new low-b HL-LHC insertions, the construction of the first 11 T magnet and DS collimator and the test of the first long SC link should also be highlighted. In addition, we are announcing the successful implementation of the ATS optics (devised for the upgrade) and the testing of the full detuning operation mode of the LHC RF system already in the present LHC, two key ingredients that have increased performance of the LHC in 2017. This tremendous progress shows how the HL-LHC project is making progress towards final implementation.
The project is now faced with the challenge of ensuring a coherent integration lay-out, within the constraints imposed by the lay-out of Civil Engineering (tendering for the large excavation and construction work is ongoing) and the preparation of a first version of the installation plan. Meanwhile, the optimization of the design and construction of the components is in progress, the window to keep various options in the planning closes and we have to work hard to make final choices for the implementation of an industrial construction roadmap.
Following the 6th HL-LHC Annual Meeting held in Paris on 14-16 November 2016, the US-LARP Collaboration Meeting 28 held in Napa Valley on 24-26 April 2017, and the 3rd HiLumi Industry Day in Warrington on 22-23 May 2017, the 7th HL-LHC Collaboration Meeting will be jointly organised by CIEMAT and CERN in Madrid, Spain from 13 to 16 November 2017.
This Annual Meeting will see the participation of all main HL-LHC contributors: the US HL-LHC AUP, involving five laboratories*, KEK-JP, CEA-FR, CIEMAT-ES, INFN-IT, the British Institutes**, Uppsala University-SE. Some new parties willing to collaborate with HL-LHC with in-kind contributions will also be present: BINP-RU, IHEP-CN, Lapland UAS-FI, TRIUMF-CA and many other Institutes.
The meeting will be based on the traditional format of plenary and work package parallel sessions, and aims to review the technical progress, the performance reach, and the consistency of the integration, as well as the results of the first installation exercise. The meeting will also focus on the preparation of the 3rd C&SR that will take place at CERN in spring 2018. Additionally, this Annual Meeting will host the 7th meeting of the HL-LHC Collaboration Board.
Participation is by invitation only, and registration is mandatory and without fee. Meeting website.
* BNL, FNAL, LBNL, SLAC, JLAB and ODU. ** Uni. of Manchester, Uni. of Lancaster, Uni. of Liverpool, Uni. of Royal Holloway, Uni. of Southampton, Uni. of Huddersfield, STFC-ASTeC Daresbury, Univ. of Dundee.