Preparing ATLAS for High Luminosity LHC

2 DECEMBER, 2021 | By Francisco Sachez-Galan and the WP8 team

2021 was an exciting year for HL-LHC WP8, we started the year successfully completing the Engineering Design Review of the TAXN, the Neutral absorber that will surround the Y-chamber both at P1 and P5 to protect the superconducting dipole D2 and were very active in the HL-LHC activities related to ATLAS and CMS experiments.

The JTT was successfully installed in ATLAS, after a long journey that started in Pakistan and was completed after reception at CERN, and the new upgraded supports for the VT chamber was finished right after, in a smooth way. Other modifications, as the JFC nose are ready for installation in Q2 2022. The VAX support structures were installed in CMS and we took the opportunity to test the remote handling principle “in situ” using the CERNBOT, an activity that required an intense preparation and was successfully completed with the support of our CMS, EN-HE and BE- CEM colleagues.

We relocated also the WP8 workshop to Bd 867 in Prevessin, where the testing campaign for the VAX modules continues, indeed, the validation of procedures and anticipation of problems during operation is a key activity for the equipment. In Bd 867, we also started the preparation of the mock-up of the Q1-TAX area, a prototype that will last until LS3 and will be extremely helpful to prepare for the deinstallation of TAS and future installation of TAXS in what the most reduced and residual dose-costly working area in the LHC beamline ring is.

Together with these activities, a successful Cost and Schedule Review and the Preparation for future manufacturing of TAXN and TAXS are keeping us busy and looking forward to an exciting 2022.