Observations of beam-beam effects at the LHC

Abstract

This paper introduces a list of observations related to the beam-beam interaction that were collected over the first years of LHC proton physics operation (2010-12). Beam-beam related effects not only have been extensively observed and recorded, but have also shaped the operation of the LHC for high-intensity proton running in a number of ways: the construction of the filling scheme, the choice of luminosity levelling techniques, measures to mitigate instabilities, and the choice of settings for improving performance (e.g. to reduce losses), among others.

Presented at the ICFA Mini-Workshop on Beam-Beam in Hadron Colliders, CERN, Geneva, Switzerland, 18-22 March 2013