LHC portal

I just read that the LHC set a record and will now be shut down for a couple of months. Could you elaborate a little on why the shut down is need?

Electricity cost + calibration and testing = Warm LHC and no Beam, until they are ready to go for the pyhsics run of 2010.

I'd also add that the shutdown is 100% planned. In effect they've taken the brand new LHC out of the garage for a quick trial run. Now it's gone back into the garage for a tune up and some tweaks. Early next year they're going to put their foot down !

Everything is going according to plan.

They're doing a lot of things that are best done with the LHC shut down, but the main thing seems to be qualifying the new quench protection systems for 3.5TeV/beam operation.

Plus even scientists like Christmas/New Year's off

Well, I hope this dosen't appear negative, but didn't they have a year to do this while the last repair was being made?

This is a shorter than normal winter break.

Everything appears to be moving along, right on schedule.

This pleases me so much

Curious Dave wrote:Well, I hope this dosen't appear negative, but didn't they have a year to do this while the last repair was being made?

I believe the term "Dung Occurs" applies here.

They make a plan. Stuff happens. They make another plan. Rinse and repeat.

If it was easy everybody would be doing it.

Curious Dave wrote:Well, I hope this dosen't appear negative, but didn't they have a year to do this while the last repair was being made?

Do not underestimate how big this project is. There is never enough time to do all the things that you want to do. And then, along the way, you get new ideas and learn things about the stuff one has build. Therefore you have to change things again. and so on and so on ...

Seems this year is heading for something really special............here's hoping

Yes, I understand. I just get excited and impatience about all the things we're going to lean in 2010. The LHC, Kepler and Hubble just to name a few. I feel we're on the edge of some major breakthroughs. I'll take a deep breath.

Thanks