The Latest from the LHC

In Sector 3-4 repair work on the cryogenic pipeline that supplies liquid helium to the magnets has been completed. During the incident in September last year some of the connecting pipes between the magnets and the pipeline were damaged. These have now been completely repaired.

On Saturday 21 March the faulty magnet, found to have high internal resistance, will be removed from Sector 6-7. During following Monday, the interconnection teams will work on the open ends of the two surrounding magnets to prepare for the replacement magnet. The transport team will then work throughout the night to get the replacement magnet into position.

Also in Sector 6-7, radio frequency (RF) ball testing has found just one ‘plug in’ module (PIM) with buckled fingers, compared to three in both Sector 5-6 and Sector 1-2, see Bulletin No. 5-6/09).

The three teams working to install the new pressure release system have reached ‘cruising speed’, with a total of 102 new valves installed this week. This takes the overall total to 269 – roughly 40% complete.